The U.S. Department of Justice urged the Supreme Court to deny President-elect Donald Trump’s request to delay a law that could ban TikTok or require its sale by January 19. Trump argued that he needed time to pursue a political resolution after taking office on January 20. The law mandates TikTok’s Chinese owner, ByteDance, to sell its U.S. operations or face a ban due to national security concerns over data collection. TikTok is challenging the law on free-speech grounds, claiming it’s being unfairly targeted. Without a court intervention, the app may no longer be available for new downloads, and current services could degrade over time. Biden has the option to extend the deadline if significant progress on divestiture is made.
Relevant news blog on TikTok’s legal battle
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) is standing firm against President-elect Donald Trump’s request to delay a law that could ban popular social media app TikTok. In a recent legal brief, Trump argued for more time to find a “political resolution” regarding TikTok’s ownership by Chinese company ByteDance. The Supreme Court is set to hear this case on January 10, just days before Trump’s inauguration on January 20.
The law, passed in April, mandates ByteDance to sell its U.S. assets by January 19 or face a ban on TikTok in the U.S. This requirement stems from concerns about national security and the potential misuse of American user data by the Chinese government. The DOJ has pointed out that there is broad agreement on the risks posed by China’s influence through TikTok, citing the app’s access to sensitive data on 170 million American users.
Trump’s legal team has called for a pause in the law’s enforcement to allow his administration to explore options. On the other hand, TikTok is advocating for its case based on First Amendment rights, arguing that the focus on its app is unwarranted, especially when other Chinese-owned apps are not facing the same scrutiny.
If the law is upheld, new downloads of TikTok will be banned from major app stores, but existing users will still be able to access the platform for a period. However, as support services cease, the app’s functionality will ultimately decline.
Interestingly, Trump’s current position marks a significant change from his 2020 stance, where he sought to block TikTok entirely due to its Chinese ownership.
In conclusion, as TikTok consolidates its legal strategies, the forthcoming Supreme Court hearing could shape the future of one of the most popular social media platforms in the U.S.
Tags: TikTok, ByteDance, Supreme Court, national security, social media policy, Trump administration, DOJ
What is the DOJ asking the Supreme Court to do about TikTok?
The Department of Justice (DOJ) is urging the Supreme Court to reject former President Trump’s request to pause a law that could ban TikTok in the U.S.
Why does Trump want to delay the TikTok ban?
Trump believes that the TikTok ban law could hurt his interests and wants to push for a delay while the legal issues are sorted out.
What are the main concerns about TikTok?
Concerns include data privacy and national security, with fears that user information might be accessed by the Chinese government.
What could happen if the Supreme Court denies Trump’s request?
If the Supreme Court denies the request, the TikTok ban law could move forward, which may lead to TikTok being removed from app stores in the U.S.
How might this impact TikTok users?
If TikTok gets banned, users in the U.S. will no longer be able to access the app. They may need to look for alternative social media platforms.
