US Supreme Court to Hear TikTok’s Appeal on Potential Ban

The US Supreme Court has agreed to hear TikTok’s appeal against a law that could force its Chinese owner, ByteDance, to sell the app or face a ban in the US. Oral arguments are scheduled for January 10, just before a January 19 deadline for ByteDance to divest.

The law, signed by President Biden in April, requires TikTok to be removed from US app stores and web hosting unless ByteDance sells its stake. TikTok argues this violates First Amendment free speech rights, claiming it would shut down a major platform for political, business, and cultural expression.

A TikTok spokesperson expressed confidence that the Court will rule the ban unconstitutional, allowing the app’s 170 million American users to continue their free speech online.

The ban could further strain US-China relations, with former President Trump voicing unexpected support for TikTok, arguing that a ban would benefit Meta (Facebook) and suppress conservative content.

The US government has raised national security concerns, accusing TikTok of allowing Beijing to collect user data and spread propaganda. Despite the controversy, a US appeals court recently upheld the law, stating TikTok’s divestment is essential for national security.