The United States of America Supreme Court has upheld a law that prohibits video-sharing app, TikTok, in the country.
In the Supreme Court verdict on Friday, the court ruled that the law does not violate free speech rights and that the US government had demonstrated legitimate national security concerns regarding a Chinese company owning the app.
Last week, the Supreme Court heard arguments from ByteDance, the company behind TikTok, arguing that the law should be blocked as it violated free speech.
“There is no doubt that, for more than 170 million Americans, TikTok offers a distinctive and expansive outlet for expression, a means of engagement, and a source of community,” the justices said.
“But Congress has determined that divestiture is necessary to address its well-supported national security concerns regarding TikTok’s data collection practices and relationship with a foreign adversary,” they concluded.
With that decision, the ban set for Sunday will effectively stand, even as lawmakers and officials across the political spectrum called for some delay.
Last year, Congress passed a law compelling ByteDance to either sell the platform or close it in the US by January 19.
The law was a response to widespread belief in Washington that the popular app could be used by China for spying or propaganda.
White House officials on Friday stated they would not enforce the ban, leaving the decision to President-elect Donald Trump, who takes office a day later.
Trump confirmed that he had discussed TikTok in a phone conversation with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday.
Speaking to Fox News on Thursday, Trump’s incoming national security adviser, Mike Waltz, said the administration would implement measures “to keep TikTok from going dark.”
“The legislation allows for an extension as long as a viable deal is on the table,” he explained. “This essentially buys President Trump time to keep TikTok going.”
“It’s been a great platform for him and his campaign to get his ‘America First’ message out,” he added. “But at the same time, he wants to protect users’ data.”
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer on Thursday also called for a delay in the looming TikTok ban.
“It’s clear that more time is needed to find an American buyer and avoid disrupting the lives and livelihoods of millions of Americans, especially the influencers who have built large followings,” Schumer said.
To enforce the ban, the US government would direct Apple and Google to remove TikTok from their app stores, preventing new downloads starting the day before Trump takes office.
TikTok lawyer Noel Francisco stated that the site would “go dark” on Sunday if the justices failed to block the ban, with reports indicating that the company was planning to suspend service entirely in the US.
While campaigning ahead of the November election, Trump pledged to save TikTok, and his team has been considering ways to delay the ban or rescue the app.
Once Trump takes office, the responsibility for enforcing the law will fall to his attorney general, who could opt not to enforce it or stall its implementation, defying Congress’s support for the legislation.
TikTok has been lobbying intensively to block the law’s implementation, and CEO Shou Chew will attend Trump’s inauguration on Monday.
TikTok did not respond to a request for comment.
AFP
