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ET explains the case and what’s in store for the platform.
Why does the US government want to ban TikTok?
In April 2024, president Joe Biden signed the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act.
The Act meant that the social media app, which is used by 170 million Americans, must either sell its US business to non-Chinese entities or end activities in the US in nine months – that is, by January 2025. The latest ruling upholds this law.
US officials have argued over the years that TikTok poses a national security threat as the Chinese government, which is “known for their surveillance and censorship,” could compel the company to share the data of US users, putting them at risk.
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TikTok has denied this, calling such concerns “speculative”.What has the response to the ruling been?
US attorney general Merrick Garland said the court’s decision stops China from “weaponising” TikTok to collect Americans’ data or covertly manipulate the content they consume to undermine national security.
TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew reportedly said in an email to staff, “While today’s news is disappointing, rest assured we will continue the fight to protect free speech on our platform.”
While civil liberties advocates have condemned the ruling for violating free speech, American content creators on the app are asking followers to follow them on other platforms like Instagram and Youtube.
What happens now?
ByteDance has until January 19 to sell the app. If it fails to do so, app store majors like Apple and Google will not be able to legally host TikTok in the US.
The deadline could be extended by three months if the President determines there is progress toward a sale.
TikTok plans to appeal the ruling in the Supreme Court.
Does Trump coming to power make a difference?
Trump was the first to order a ban on TikTok, back in 2020, during his first presidency.
Since March 2024, however, Trump has opposed a TikTok ban saying it would empower competitor Facebook.
“There’s a lot of good and there’s a lot of bad with TikTok, but the thing I don’t like is that without TikTok, you’re going to make Facebook bigger, and I consider Facebook to be an enemy of the people, along with a lot of the media,” Trump has said.
Trump joined TikTok in June.
He was banned from Facebook and Instagram for two years following the January 6, 2021, insurrection at the US Capitol.
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