Sources BBC News
TikTok is set to appear before the US Supreme Court on Friday in a final attempt to block a looming ban that could take effect on January 19. The social media giant is challenging a law passed last year requiring it to separate from its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, or face a US ban.
The US government contends that TikTok poses a national security threat, claiming China could use the platform to access user data or spread political propaganda. TikTok denies these allegations, arguing that the ban infringes on the First Amendment rights of its 170 million American users.
Lower courts have sided with the government, but the case took a new turn last month when President-elect Donald Trump requested a pause in enforcing the law to explore a potential resolution. Legal experts remain uncertain about how the Supreme Court will rule, with Cardozo School of Law professor Saurabh Vishnubhakat noting that close cases like this often favor the government.
The law has bipartisan support in Congress, reflecting long-standing concerns about the platform’s influence, particularly among young users. While the legislation does not prohibit TikTok’s use, it would force companies like Apple and Google to remove the app from their stores, potentially crippling its operations.
TikTok, already banned on government devices in many countries, including the UK, and fully banned in India, has called the US law unconstitutional and based on flawed evidence. The Supreme Court’s decision, expected in the coming days, will determine whether the ban proceeds or if TikTok secures more time to challenge the legislation.
This high-stakes case tests the balance between national security and free speech in the digital age.
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