President-elect Donald Trump has urged the Supreme Court to pause the controversial ban on TikTok, set to take effect next month, to allow for a negotiated resolution. The Biden administration, however, defended the ban citing national security concerns.
The pending case questions whether the TikTok ban approved by Congress violates the First Amendment. Trump, in a 'friend-of-the-court' brief, requested a delay in the ban's implementation, emphasizing the need to preserve Americans' First Amendment rights while addressing national security concerns.
Trump's brief highlighted the potential global precedent of shutting down a social media platform based on speech concerns. The ban, passed with bipartisan support, allows TikTok to continue if it divests from Chinese ownership.
The tension between national security and free speech was underscored in arguments submitted to the Supreme Court, with Trump's administration previously raising concerns about the platform.
Former Trump officials, including Jeff Sessions and Ajit Pai, supported the ban, while Trump ally Mike Pence's advocacy group described TikTok as a 'technological weapon.'
TikTok argued against the ban, stating that the government is attempting to shut down a significant speech platform. Advocacy groups like the ACLU and Knight First Amendment Institute emphasized the ban's impact on Americans' freedom to access online content.
The Supreme Court's consideration of the case reflects the urgency surrounding the issue, with a federal appeals court recently upholding the ban citing national security interests.
Trump's brief, filed by D. John Sauer, proposed delaying the ban's deadline to seek a negotiated resolution post-inauguration.
