On Friday, the US Supreme Court upheld a law banning the video-sharing platform TikTok due to national security concerns about a Chinese company owning the app, according to media reports.
The social media app owners appealed, saying that the ban violated the First Amendment.
The court ruled that the law does not violate free speech rights and added that the US government had shown legitimate national security concerns about the app.
The law will force TikTok’s Chinese owner to sell its US business by Sunday or face a ban.
During a hearing last week, the Supreme Court agreed that the video-sharing platform was a means of expression for millions of Americans.
“There is no doubt that, for more than 170 million Americans, TikTok offers a distinctive and expansive outlet for expression, means of engagement, and source of community,” they said.
However, they added that issues raised regarding TikTok’s data collection practices and the adversarial relationship between the US and China were also significant.
What Did The Biden Administration Say?
The outgoing Biden administration has stated that they leave any decisions regarding the ban up to president-elect Donald Trump, who will take office on January 20.
“President Biden’s position on TikTok has been clear for months, including since Congress sent a bill in an overwhelming, bipartisan fashion to the President’s desk: TikTok should remain available to Americans, but simply under American ownership or other ownership that addresses the national security concerns identified by Congress in developing this law,” said the White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre on Friday.
“Given the sheer fact of timing, this administration recognizes that actions to implement the law simply must fall to the next administration, which takes office on Monday,” Pierre added.
What’s Donald Trump’s Response?
In a post on Truth Social, Donald Trump said he discussed TikTok with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday during a phone conversation. During his presidential campaign, Trump had vowed to save the application from being banned.
The President-elect also made his stance clear in a post on Truth Social. He said that everyone must respect the Supreme Court’s decision. The post read, ” The Supreme Court decision was expected, and everyone must respect it. My decision on TikTok will be made in the not too distant future, but I must have time to review the situation. Stay tuned!”
Meanwhile, media reported that TikTok CEO Shou Chew will also attend Donald Trump’s inauguration ceremony on Monday.
