
Supreme Court Signals Strong Support for TikTok Ban
The Supreme Court Justices appear poised to uphold the TikTok ban signed by President Biden, which requires Chinese-owned ByteDance to sell the app or face a U.S. ban on January 19.

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During oral arguments, the justices expressed skepticism toward TikTok's First Amendment defense. Chief Justice John Roberts emphasized that Congress's concern isn't about TikTok's content but rather Chinese control of the platform.
The key debate centers on whether national security concerns outweigh free speech rights. Justice Kavanaugh highlighted data collection as a "huge concern," noting the potential for creating shadow profiles that could be used for espionage and blackmail of future government officials.
U.S. Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar emphasized the bipartisan nature of the law, stating that Congress united around the threat of Chinese control over the platform rather than concerns about content.
TikTok's legal team argues that banning the app would violate the free speech rights of its 170 million U.S. users. They also referenced Trump's previous stance, noting his recent promise to "save TikTok" to his 15 million followers.
If upheld, the ban would take effect on July 19, requiring app stores to remove TikTok and ISPs to block access to the web version. Apple and Google have been notified to prepare for compliance with the new law.
Key concerns about TikTok include:
- Data collection practices
- Access to user clipboard contents
- Continuous location tracking
- Military and Congressional bans already in place
- Potential national security threats
The app's future now rests with the Supreme Court's decision, which could reshape the social media landscape in the United States.

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