U.S. Supreme Court May Force Beijing to Sell or Shut Down TikTok

The Supreme Court appears ready to enforce a law that could lead to TikTok’s sale or ban in the U.S.

U.S. Supreme Court May Force Beijing to Sell or Shut Down TikTok
U.S. Supreme Court May Force Beijing to Sell or Shut Down TikTok

Washington: The U.S. Supreme Court had a hearing on Friday that hinted they might back a law pushing for TikTok’s sale or a ban. This law is part of the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act.

Many folks, including the 170 million Americans who use TikTok, are against a ban. So, ByteDance, TikTok’s Chinese parent company, needs to find a buyer fast, especially with the law set to kick in on January 19. If the court backs the law, it could prioritize national security over TikTok’s First Amendment claims.

Justices pointed out that the issue isn’t about the content on TikTok but who owns it. Whether it’s cat videos or political propaganda, the real concern is how the owner handles user data.

Out of 193 UN member countries, the U.S. sees only four as foreign adversaries: China, North Korea, Russia, and Iran. These countries are known for meddling in U.S. politics.

If TikTok were owned by any other foreign entity or Americans, there wouldn’t be a problem. But if ByteDance insists on keeping control, TikTok won’t be allowed in the U.S. The responsibility for that would fall on ByteDance.

Back in 2020, Donald Trump tried to force a sale or ban TikTok through executive action, but that didn’t fly. Congress had to step in, and last year, a bill passed with strong bipartisan support and was signed by President Biden.

This isn’t just about consumer awareness, as Justice Sam Alito suggested. The law aims to prevent hostile governments from accessing personal data of U.S. citizens.

While many don’t want TikTok banned, it can be both useful and harmful. The government has decided that TikTok can’t be under Chinese control. If the Supreme Court agrees, TikTok will need a new owner soon.

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