The Supreme Court is set to hear oral arguments on Friday regarding a U.S. law that mandates TikTok to divest from its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, or face a ban from operating in the country. This case has garnered significant attention as it involves balancing national security concerns with free speech protections for millions of Americans.
In December, the court agreed to expedite the hearing, giving it just nine days to decide on TikTok's request to halt or delay the ban scheduled to take effect on Jan. 19. A swift ruling is expected from the justices.
TikTok, with an estimated 170 million users in the U.S., remains a popular social media platform. The Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, passed by Congress in April, requires TikTok to separate from its Chinese ownership within nine months or face removal from U.S. app stores and hosting services.
TikTok and ByteDance have challenged the law, arguing that it infringes on First Amendment rights by targeting the app based on its ownership. They contend that the legislation fails to consider less restrictive alternatives to a complete ban.
Congress and the Biden administration have raised concerns about China potentially exploiting TikTok to access user data and influence American users with Chinese government-backed content. The administration has submitted classified evidence to support its stance that TikTok poses national security risks.
President-elect Trump has expressed support for TikTok, further adding to the case's significance. However, the administration has not disclosed its stance on the divestiture issue.
While some lawmakers advocate for overturning the ban, others, like Sen. Mitch McConnell, argue in favor of enforcing the divestiture clause as scheduled. The Supreme Court's decision on this case will have far-reaching implications for the future of TikTok in the U.S.
