TikTok Seeks Supreme Court Intervention to Avert US Ban
Sign up for ARPU: Stay ahead of the curve on tech news.
TikTok is making a last-ditch effort to prevent a US ban, asking the Supreme Court to temporarily block a law that could force its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to divest the short-video app by January 19, reports Reuters.
The Department of Justice, which has deemed TikTok a national security threat due to ByteDance's Chinese ownership and access to US user data, is pushing for the ban. The US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit upheld the law in December, rejecting TikTok's arguments that it violates free speech protections.
In an emergency petition to the Supreme Court, TikTok and ByteDance argue that the law constitutes unconstitutional censorship, stating, "if Americans, duly informed of the alleged risks of 'covert' content manipulation, choose to continue viewing content on TikTok with their eyes wide open, the First Amendment entrusts them with making that choice, free from the government's censorship."
The companies also warn that a shutdown, even for a short period, could cause significant harm, leading to the loss of a substantial portion of its US user base and damaging its ability to attract advertisers and talent.
Highlighting the urgency of the situation, TikTok emphasizes the potential for its US operations to be "shuttered one of America's most popular speech platforms the day before a presidential inauguration."
President-elect Donald Trump, who previously attempted to ban TikTok during his first term, has indicated a willingness to intervene. In a press conference, Trump stated, "I would take a look," regarding the ban, adding that he has "a warm spot in my heart for TikTok." Trump is reportedly meeting with TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew in Florida to discuss the matter.
The law's potential impact extends beyond TikTok, with the possibility of setting a precedent for future crackdowns on other foreign-owned apps. A similar attempt to ban WeChat in 2020, also based on national security concerns, was blocked by the courts.
TikTok, meanwhile, continues to deny any wrongdoing, asserting that it has never shared US user data and accusing lawmakers of promoting unfounded security fears.