During recent oral arguments, the Supreme Court justices indicated a tendency towards approving a bill that may lead to a ban on TikTok unless its Chinese owner, ByteDance, sells the platform. This follows a law signed by President Biden in May 2024, which mandates that ByteDance must divest TikTok by January 19, 2025, or face a shutdown. The legislation aims to address concerns regarding user privacy and the potential influence of the Chinese government on the app.
ByteDance has consistently asserted that it operates independently and has challenged allegations that it has shared user data with the Chinese government. During the hearing, justices from both liberal and conservative factions voiced skepticism about ByteDance’s claim that mandated sales would infringe on users’ First Amendment rights. The federal government emphasized the national security risks posed by the app’s ownership.
The Supreme Court is expected to deliver its final decision in the coming days.