US Supreme Court Rules to Ban TikTok Over Security Concerns

Here are the key points from the article about the US Supreme Court’s ruling on TikTok:

Ruling: The US Supreme Court has ruled in favor of a law that aims to ban TikTok, citing national security concerns due to its ownership by Chinese company ByteDance.

Background: Lawmakers fear that the Chinese government could use TikTok to spy on Americans or disseminate pro-China propaganda. To avoid expulsion, TikTok’s parent company ByteDance would need to fully divest from the platform.

Implications: The ruling gives enormous power to Congress to act on data privacy questions and may have significant implications for free speech in the US.

Next Steps:

1. Implementation: The law will take effect on January 19, but its implementation will fall to the incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump.
2. Trump’s Stance: Trump has asked the Supreme Court to delay a ruling, seeking time to cut a “negotiated solution” that would resolve national security concerns. He has also publicly stated that he wants to save TikTok, citing its potential to boost youth turnout for him in elections.
3. Possible Outcomes:
   • Trump could instruct his Justice Department not to enforce the ban, putting companies like Apple and Google in an awkward position.
   • Trump could extend the start date of the ban, even though it will have already started on January 19.
   • The president can delay the ban for a 90-day period if progress has been made toward a sale away from ByteDance.

Reaction:

1. TikTok’s Lawyer: Suggested that Trump may be able to put the ban on pause, citing the possibility of a “different world” after January 20.
2. US Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar: Argued that banning TikTok is necessary to protect national security and that including a disclaimer on the app indicating potential manipulation by China would not be sufficient.

Timeline:

1. January 19: The ban on TikTok will take effect.
2. January 20: Trump will be sworn into office, potentially allowing him to influence the implementation of the law.
3. 90-day period: The president can delay the ban if progress has been made toward a sale away from ByteDance.