TikTok Fights for Survival as it Seeks to Delay US Ban
Popular video-sharing platform TikTok is fighting back against a potential ban in the United States.
The company is seeking urgent intervention from the U.S. Supreme Court, asking for a temporary halt to a law requiring its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to divest itself from the platform or face a US ban.
TikTok’s legal fight comes after a federal appeals court upheld a law demanding ByteDance to sell TikTok by January 19th or face the ban.
TikTok’s lawyers are pleading with the higher court for a chance to review the case, emphasizing the US Supreme Court’s historical commitment to protecting free speech rights.
They are confident the Supreme Court will recognize the importance of this issue.
The filing comes as the clock ticks down. The companies warn that without this intervention, TikTok could face a US shut down in early 2024. Affect would be vast, with over 170 million US users losing access, potentially impacting millions more international users.
The legal team behind the request
is urging the court to act swiftly, setting a deadline of December 16th. This is partly due to the upcoming change in administration, hoping the incoming President Biden will have ample time to clarify his stance before the deadline.
The Supreme Court’s decision holds the future for TikTok in wrenching. The outcome could determine if the platform can survive US scrutiny and remain accessible to millions of users.
National Security Concerns Fuel the Legal Battles
US officials have cited national security concerns about TikTok for some time. They’ve accused ByteDance of sharing user data with the Chinese government. Critics have raised further concerns, claiming China could potentially exploit TikTok to spread misinformation. They also cited concerns about the mental health impact on young users from content.
TikTok’s Response
TikTok vehemently denies the accusations.
170 million Americans use TikTok to express themselves and connect.
While the appeals court recognized TikTok’s importance, it ultimately upheld the divestment requirement, citing national security as a key reason. This means publications for sale are underway. However, experts point out that even if ByteDance agreed to sell TikTok, Chinese export regulations could block the deal. Still, a few American investors, including former Trump Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and businessman Frank McCourt, are exploring purchasing the US operations.
The Supreme Court’s decision will be pivotal in shaping the future of TikTok in the US.
This case also raises broader questions about how far the US government can go in regulating technology companies and citing national security as a justification.
