Supreme Court Deliberates TikTok's Future Amid National Security Concerns
The Supreme Court hears arguments on TikTok's sale to alleviate national security risks, with potential economic implications for millions of U.S. users.
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Summary
The Supreme Court is currently deliberating TikTok's challenge against a law requiring its sale from Chinese parent ByteDance due to national security concerns. Should the law be upheld, TikTok could face a ban starting January 19. Oral arguments reflected skepticism towards TikTok's free speech claims and discussed alternatives, including an extension allowing negotiation for a U.S. buyer. President-elect Trump's involvement, including a potential delay, has emerged as a possibility. The decision could have profound economic implications for TikTok's 170 million American users.
Informed by:
From the Left
The enforcement of the TikTok shutdown law poses serious First Amendment concerns as it potentially restricts the speech of 170 million American users, especially before a significant political transition in the presidency.
Critics argue that the ban on TikTok does not sufficiently mitigate national security threats while infringing upon users' free speech rights, questioning the actual immediacy and substance of the national security claims.
The law seems to target platforms based on foreign ownership rather than conclusively established security threats, casting doubt on the motives behind the legislation.
Informed by:
From the Right
The Supreme Court's skepticism towards TikTok's free speech defense indicates a robust legal backing for the law aimed at securing U.S. national interests from perceived threats posed by the platform's Chinese ownership.
Supporters of the law highlight a broad bipartisan agreement in Congress that underscores serious national security threats resulting from TikTok's operations, particularly in terms of data collection and the potential for espionage.
The law’s urgency is reflected in its imminent enforcement deadline, which demonstrates a clear commitment from the Biden administration to prioritize American national security over foreign control of significant tech platforms, including TikTok.
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Highlights (26)
Shutting this down is going to be a major social, political and economic consequence for those individuals, not just the company.”
What's next for TikTok? App left with few options after skeptical Supreme Court reception
NBC News
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I’m concerned about the government’s attempt to lodge secret evidence in this case without providing any mechanism for opposing counsel to review it.
Supreme Court justices express concern about 'secret evidence' in TikTok case
Straight Arrow News
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Automatically genuflecting to government assertions of national security peril, especially when fundamental rights are at stake, is a habit that has led to some of the Supreme Court’s most regrettable decisions, including Korematsu, when it upheld the use of detention camps for United States citizens of Japanese origin during World War II.
The Supreme Court May Let TikTok Go Dark
Mother Jones
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If left in place, the law passed by bipartisan majorities in Congress and signed by President Biden in April will require TikTok to “go dark” on January 19.
New York Sun
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If the justices rule against TikTok—as is widely expected—millions of Americans will lose access to a vital platform for self-expression, news consumption, and communication. It would seem obvious that this is a fundamental blow to the First Amendment; regrettably, nebulous national security concerns are often the most potent weapon against protections for free speech.
TikTok took a beating at the Supreme Court
Reason
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Trump has voiced opposition to banning TikTok and filed a friend-of-the-court brief asking the court to delay the ban until after he takes office, allowing him a chance to reach an agreement that would address security concerns and keep the app up and running.
Could Donald Trump just ignore a TikTok ban?
Newsweek
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The immense amount of data the app could collect on users and their contacts could give China a powerful tool for harassment, recruitment and espionage, she explained.
US Supreme Court critical of TikTok arguments against looming ban
Al Jazeera
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TikTok, which has more than 170 million U.S. users, has said divestment is practically impossible, and the platform would “go dark” in just days.
Justices skeptical of TikTok’s defense
The Hill
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As a matter of law, in other words, it’s looking like the ban is going to happen, and probably right before Donald Trump once again takes office.
Tiktok’s Final Appeal to the Supreme Court Didn’t Go Too Well
New York Magazine
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This train of thought − that a TikTok ban should not be such a high priority for U.S. lawmakers − has been shared and re-shared in videos by creators large and small and echoed in the comments of many videos discussing the ban.
'TikTok is our most pressing concern?' Creators fear livelihoods at risk with potential ban
USA TODAY
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Civil liberties and free speech organizations oppose the ban, contending that it violates Americans’ rights under the First Amendment.
U.S. TikTok Ban Looms as Supreme Court Hears Arguments
Scientific American
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The law was signed last year and calls for the app to be sold by its Chinese parent company ByteDance by Jan. 19, and the app could be shut down in the US if the law is upheld.
Here's What You Need to Know if TikTok Does Get Banned in the US
CNET
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It is likely that many of the skeptical questions Prelogar faced, by contrast, were driven by concerns about overreaching in a decision ruling in TikTok’s favor, rather than by a desire to see TikTok prevail.
The Supreme Court doesn’t seem likely to save TikTok
Vox
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The network concluded the court’s justices were leaning “toward upholding the law that could ban TikTok.”
MEDIAite
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The high court heard oral arguments from lawyers for TikTok and its content creators, who argued that the US government’s goal in implementing the legislation was not preventing the harvesting of user data or thwarting foreign espionage, but instead chipping away at core First Amendment rights.
Supreme Court appears ready to uphold law forcing TikTok’s sale from ByteDance
New York Post
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So the justices, you know, they picked apart the different arguments, asking hypotheticals. What if this statute didn't have anything to do with speech? What if it was just ownership?
Supreme Court Signals It’s Likely to Uphold TikTok Ban
Bloomberg
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the national security threat posed by the company’s connections to China override concerns about restricting the speech, either of TikTok or its 170 million users in the United States.
Supreme Court seems likely to uphold a federal law that could force TikTok to shut down on Jan. 19
Associated Press
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The justices agreed to decide TikTok’s 1st Amendment appeal on a fast-track schedule, and they are likely to issue a ruling within a few days. None of them sounded ready to declare the law unconstitutional.
Supreme Court casts doubt on TikTok's free-speech defense as shutdown law is set to take effect
Los Angeles Times
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In his final statement, Noel Francisco, TikTok’s lawyer, implored the justices to enter an administrative stay or a preliminary injunction on the ban, which is slated to go into effect on 19 January.
TikTok ban: supreme court appears inclined to uphold law that could see app barred in US – live
The Guardian
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TikTok said it would "go dark" in the US later this month if the Supreme Court fails to extend a January 19 divestment deadline set by a divest-or-ban law.
TikTok says it would 'go dark' in the US this month if Supreme Court doesn't intervene
Business Insider
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At issue is the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, a law signed by President that passed Congress in April with bipartisan approval.
Supreme Court appears skeptical of blocking US ban on TiKTok: What to know
FOX News
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Critics warn this decision could go beyond losing favorite social media influencers, potentially shaping the future of free speech.
Supreme Court to hear arguments on fate of TikTok
NewsNation
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TikTok says the law violates the First Amendment and should be struck down.
The Supreme Court is considering a possible TikTok ban. Here's what to know
ABC News
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The federal government, meanwhile, calls the law “entirely consistent” with the First Amendment.
What to know about the TikTok ban case at the Supreme Court
MSNBC
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The law that could ban TikTok is coming before the Supreme Court on Friday morning, with the justices largely holding the app’s fate in their hands.
The Latest: The Supreme Court to Consider a Possible TikTok Ban
Newsmax
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TikTok's legal team argues that forcing the company to close up shop in the U.S. represents an unprecedented government suppression of free speech.
TikTok is heading to the Supreme Court to challenge its U.S. ban. Here's what to know
NPR
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