By Bayero Ade
The U.S. Supreme Court has expedited TikTok’s challenge to a law that could lead to the app’s ban in the country, scheduling oral arguments for January 10. This decision underscores the high stakes of the case, which centers on the clash between free speech rights and national security concerns.
The law in question, known as the Protecting Americans From Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, requires ByteDance, TikTok’s Chinese parent company, to sell the app to a non-Chinese entity or face a ban in the U.S.
The Supreme Court has allocated two hours for the hearing, instructing both parties to submit briefs by December 27 to address whether the legislation violates the First Amendment. The law, signed by President Joe Biden earlier this year, follows bipartisan concerns about the app’s potential security risks.
TikTok argues that the law violates free speech protections, while the Biden administration and lawmakers have raised alarms about the app’s Chinese ownership and potential national security threats. Some officials worry that TikTok could expose sensitive user data to the Chinese government or be used for disinformation campaigns, although no conclusive evidence has been presented.
Critics also point out that U.S. platforms like Facebook and YouTube are blocked in China, while TikTok operates under strict regulations within the country.
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