The United States Supreme Court confirmed on Friday the TikTok ban starting Sunday, unless its parent company, the Chinese ByteDancesell the application, as reported AP and Reuters. The decision, unanimously supported, maintains that the national security risks overcome concerns about freedom of expression of the 170 million users of the platform in the country.
The measure responds to the US government’s concern about the possibility that China access data of TikTok users or manipulate content in the application. The law, approved with broad support bipartisan in Congress and signed by the president Joe Biden in April, prevents app stores from Apple and Google offer TikTok and have internet hosting services keep it running.
Although the app won’t immediately disappear from current users’ phones, new users won’t be able to download it or receive updates, making it inoperable over time, according to the Department of Justice.
The decision comes at a time of change in US leadership, as the ban comes into effect just before the end of the US mandate. Joe Biden and the inauguration of the elected president donald trumpwho has indicated that he will try to negotiate a solution to avoid the ban.
Trump, who has 14.7 million followers on TikTokhas expressed opposition to the move, in contrast to other Republicans who have criticized ByteDance for not selling the app. During his first term, Trump had tried to ban TikTok for national security reasons, but now he has stated that the application has been a key means of connecting with young voters.
The law allows a 90 day extension if there are significant advances in the sale of TikTok before its implementation. However, Elizabeth Prelogarthe attorney general who defended the law before the Supreme Court, said it is unclear whether an agreement after the measure goes into effect could activate this extension.
The United States government maintains that TikTok represents a threat to national security due to the collection of sensitive data of users, which could be used by the Chinese government to espionage and political influence. According to Reutersthe Supreme Court highlighted that China has undertaken extensive efforts to amass databases of U.S. citizens for the purposes of intelligence and counterintelligence.
The administration of Biden has defended the law by stating that its objective is not to restrict freedom of expression, but rather ensure the application is not controlled by a foreign adversary. US officials have warned that the TikTok algorithmwhich determines what content users see, is susceptible to manipulation by Chinese authorities.
TikTok has rejected these accusations and has argued that the ban violates the First Amendment by restricting the freedom of expression on a platform used by millions of people. The company has also indicated that The US has not presented evidence that the Chinese government has used TikTok to manipulate content or collect data from US citizens.
The CEO of TikTok, Shou Zi Chewwill attend the investiture of trump on Monday, reflecting the company’s interest in holding talks with the new administration.
Despite the pressure to sell TikTok, ByteDance has reiterated that it has no plans to sell the app. However, several investors have shown interest in acquiring the US subsidiary, including former Treasury Secretary, Steven Mnuchin, and the businessman Frank McCourtwho has submitted an offer through his initiative Project Liberty.
Until now, ByteDance has not accepted any offers, in part because Chinese laws They restrict the sale of the algorithm that has made the application successful. This complicates any potential transaction, as without the original algorithm, the US version of TikTok would lose much of its functionality.
Trump’s team has indicated that it will try to avoid the closure of TikTok if there is a possibility of a viable sale. Mike WaltzTrump’s future national security advisor, stated that the new administration will work on mechanisms to prevent the platform from “going out” and could grant a 90 day extension if there is progress in the negotiation.
The leader of the Democratic majority in the Senate, Chuck Schumerhas also expressed that TikTok should receive longer to find an American buyer who address national security concerns.
The case of TikTok is a reflection of the growing geopolitical conflict between Washington and Beijingat a time when trade and technological tensions between both powers continue to increase. The ban on the app has also raised concerns among content creators, advertisers and companieswhich depend on TikTok for your visibility and business.
Yeah TikTok If it does not achieve a sale or does not obtain an extension of the deadline, the application will face severe restrictions starting Sunday, leaving access for millions of users in the United States in uncertainty. The decision of the Supreme Courtby supporting the law, underlines the US government’s increasingly strict approach towards the presence of Chinese technology companies in its territory.
As trump assumes the presidency, negotiations on the future of TikTok in the country are expected to be one of the first key tests for its administration in terms of international relations and regulation of digital platforms.
