TikTok ban looms: ByteDance battles U.S. in Supreme Court

As early as January 19, TikTok may be completely banned in the United States. On December 6, the federal appeals court rejected a request from ByteDance, the company that owns the app, to declare the U.S. Congress resolution unconstitutional. This resolution would ban the app unless TikTok is sold to another owner.

The U.S. Congress's justification for passing the bill centers on the alleged ties between TikTok's owners and the Chinese government and concerns about the security of user data. After ByteDance's defeat in the federal appeals court, the company announced its intention to appeal to the Supreme Court. On December 10, ByteDance filed a legal motion to temporarily block the bill to give the Supreme Court time to consider the case. The U.S. Department of Justice is urging the rejection of this motion.

In their motion, TikTok's lawyers stated: "The public interest supports allowing the Supreme Court sufficient time to conduct an orderly process and the new administration to evaluate this exceptionally important matter." They also argued that even a temporary ban would result in substantial losses for ByteDance.

The app, most popular among Generations Z and Alpha, is being eyed by companies like Mark Zuckerberg's Meta, yet ByteDance has categorically rejected the possibility of selling. TikTok has 170 million users in the U.S. It has become an informational alternative to traditional media for the younger generation. On TikTok, their participants show world events in real time, without being filtered through the editorial positions of traditional newspapers or TV.

Interestingly, Donald Trump might save TikTok. Although the President-elect himself tried to ban the app in 2020 during his first term, before the 2024 elections he announced that he will not allow the TikTok ban to come into effect. Will he keep this promise? We will find out after January 20, when he officially takes office.

Source: bbc.com