Supreme Court Leaning Towards Upholding TikTok Ban in the United States

The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments about whether TikTok should be banned or sold by January 19 due to national security concerns. The focus was on the possible risks of China using the app to spy on Americans or influence them covertly.

This has been a hot topic in the States for some time now and with the Supreme Court close to reaching a decision, it seems that the ban could be upheld, Reuters reports. The Supreme Court judges are, seemingly, leaning towards upholding the ban, which should really come as a major surprise.

During the hearing, justices questioned the involvement of TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, in intelligence activities. Chief Justice John Roberts pointed out that ByteDance could be forced to work with the Chinese government on spying efforts.

TikTok and its users are challenging a law passed by Congress, which was signed by President Biden, that would force the sale or ban of the app. They argue that this violates First Amendment protections on free speech.

Some justices expressed worries about the impact on free speech, but many focused on the national security risks. Justice Brett Kavanaugh raised concerns about the long-term danger of China collecting personal data from young users, potentially using it in the future to turn individuals into spies or even blackmail them.

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