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The Supreme Court on Friday approved a law requiring China-based ByteDance to divest itself of TikTok’s ownership by Sunday or face failure. effective ban Popular US social video app
ByteDance has so far refused to sell TikTok, which means many US users can lost access to the application this weekend. The app still works for those who have TikTok on their phones, even though ByteDance has threatened to shut down the app.
The Supreme Court unanimously sided with the Biden administration, upholding the President’s Act to Protect Americans from Apps Controlled by Foreign Adversaries. Joe Biden signed in April
“There is no doubt that for more than 170 million Americans, TikTok provides a distinctive and pervasive source of expression, engagement, and community,” the Supreme Court’s opinion said. “But Congress has determined that the divestment is necessary to address national security concerns about TikTok’s data collection practices and relationship with a foreign adversary.”
Supreme Court Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Neil Gorsuch wrote the concurrences.
The fate of TikTok In the US it is now up to the president-elect Donald Trumphe initially supported a TikTok ban during his first administration, but has since reversed course. In December, Trump he asked to the Supreme Court suspend the implementation of the law and gives his administration “an opportunity to obtain a political settlement of the questions at issue in the case.”
In a post on his social media app Truth Social, Trump wrote that the decision was expected “and should be respected by all.”
“My decision on TikTok will be made in the not too distant future, but I need time to review the situation. Stay tuned!” Trump wrote it.
Trump started talking more positively about TikTok they met in February With billionaire Republican megadonor Jeff Yass. Yass is a major investor in ByteDance, and also has an ownership stake Social Truth.
Trump will be inaugurated on Monday, a day after the TikTok sales deadline. TikTok CEO Shou Chew is one of the leaders in technology attendance is expectedsitting on the platform.
In a video posted on TikTok, Chew thanked Trump for his “commitment to work with us to find a solution that keeps TikTok available” in the US. He said using TikTok is a First Amendment right, adding that more than 7 million American businesses use it. to earn money and find customers.
“Rest assured, we will do everything in our power to ensure that our platform grows as your online home for unlimited creativity and discovery, as well as a source of inspiration and joy for years to come,” he said.
The nation’s top court said that “while data collection and analysis is a common practice in this digital age,” TikTok’s sheer size and “susceptibility to control by foreign adversaries, along with the vast amount of sensitive data the platform collects.” “It raises national security concerns.
By law, third party internet service providers such as the apple and google After the January 19 deadline, he will be punished for supporting ByteDance-owned TikTok.
If service providers and app store owners comply, consumers will not be able to install the necessary updates that make the app work.
Representatives for TikTok did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Users look for alternatives
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre confirmed Biden’s support for the law in a statement, saying “TikTok should be available to Americans, but under American ownership or other ownership that addresses national security concerns identified by Congress when developing this law.”
“Given the timing, this Administration recognizes that actions to implement the law must be left to the next Administration, which will take office on Monday,” said Pierre.
Attorney General Merrick Garland and his deputy Lisa Monaco said in a statement that the decision “allows the Justice Department to prevent the Chinese government from weaponizing TikTok to undermine America’s national security.”
Kate Ruane, director of the nonprofit Center for Democracy and Technology, criticized the ruling, saying in a statement that it “undermines the free speech of hundreds of millions of TikTok users in this country and around the world.”
In December, members of the Chinese Communist Party House Select Committee send letters Apple CEO Tim Cook and Google CEO Sundar Pichai, urging executives to start preparing to comply with the law.
Shou Zi Chew, CEO of TikTok, speaks outside the office of Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) in the Russell Senate Office Building on March 14, 2024 in Washington.
Anna Moneymaker | Getty Images
On the 10th of January The Supreme Court heard oral arguments From lawyers representing TikTok, content creators and the US government. TikTok’s lead attorney, Noel Francisco, argued that the law violates the First Amendment rights of the app’s 170 million American users. US Attorney General Elizabeth Prelogar argued that the app’s alleged ties to the Chinese government are a national security threat.
Many TikTok creators have told their fans to find them on competing social platforms, such as Google’s YouTube and Meta’s Facebook and Instagram, CNBC notify. Additionally, Instagram executives held meetings after the January 10 Supreme Court hearing to direct staff to prepare for a wave of users if the court approves the law.
Chinese social media app and RedNote rose to prominence on TikTok Apple’s app store on Monday, indicating that millions of TikTok users were looking for alternatives.
The Chinese government also weighed a emergency plan that would make X the owner Elon Musk The acquisition of TikTok’s US operations is one of several options aimed at maintaining the app’s effective ban in the US, Bloomberg News notify monday
If ByteDance decides to sell TikTok to a US company or group of investors, potential buyers may have to pay. 40 billion to 50 billion dollarsAccording to the calculations of CFRA Research Senior Vice President Angelo Zino.
SEEING: SCOTUS hears case to ban TikTok
