TikTok warns of broader consequences if US Supreme Court allows ban

TikTok warns of broader consequences if US Supreme Court allows ban

TikTok, the widely used short-video app owned by the Chinese company ByteDance, is facing a potentially consequential legal battle in the United States. A law passed in April of 2024 requires ByteDance to divest TikTok’s American operations by Jan. 19, 2025, or face a nationwide ban. This legislation has been driven by national security fears, as U.S. officials have been worried that the Chinese government can access and gain influence over user data.

TikTok has responded by challenging the law, which it argued violates First Amendment rights by restricting free speech. And there’s no immediate threat to U.S. security, according to the company, so users should be free to choose their platforms. These arguments aside, a U.S. federal appeals court ruled the law was permissible, and TikTok proceeded with an appeal to the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court has agreed to hear the case, with arguments before the court set for Jan. 10, 2025.

The looming deadline has major implications for TikTok’s extensive U.S. user base, which some estimate is around 170 million. If the ban goes ahead, TikTok would disappear from app stores, meaning new downloads and updates would no longer be available, making the app more sluggish and less secure. Users may resort to workarounds such as VPNs or sideloading, but such methods come with their own risks. This could also affect businesses and content creators who depend on using this platform, potentially causing a migration to other platforms like Instagram, Snapchat, Youtube, Triller, Zigazoo and Twitch.

This is also happening in the context of the political transition in the U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, who previously tried to ban TikTok in 2020, has mended fences and offered to prevent the ban, seeking a resolution in his "first action after being sworn in." This leaves a cloud of uncertainty on whether the law will be enforced and if TikTok will remain in operation in the U.S.

And as the January 19 deadline looms, this is the decision to watch for from the courts, which could have significant implications on how digital platforms operate, international business relationships and the wider conversations about free speech versus national security.