US Supreme Court upholds TikTok ban

On January 17, the US Supreme Court rejected TikTok's lawsuit against the law requiring Bytedance to divest by January 19, or the social network would have to close in the US.

TikTok is at risk of closing on January 19 in the US - Photo: REUTERS

TikTok is at risk of closing in the US on January 19

Under a law signed by President Joe Biden in 2024, TikTok will be banned in the US if its parent company Bytedance does not divest from the video app by January 19.

TikTok sued, arguing that the law violated its free speech rights under the First Amendment of the US Constitution.

However, on January 17, the US Supreme Court ruled that this law does not violate the Constitution.

According to Reuters, the court acknowledged the importance of TikTok to 170 million US users.

However, the court stressed that the US Congress had determined that the divestment requirement was necessary to address national security concerns related to TikTok's data collection and its relationship with a "foreign adversary".

Immediately after the Supreme Court's decision, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre reiterated President Biden's argument that Americans should continue to have access to TikTok, but that ownership of the app should remain in the United States, or under another ownership that can address the national security concerns Congress addressed when it enacted the law.

However, Ms. Jean-Pierre said that considering the timing of the court's decision, "the implementation of this law must belong to the next administration" (Mr. Trump's administration - PV ).

Mr. Trump will make a decision

The Supreme Court ruling has turned the spotlight on US President-elect Donald Trump.

Asked by CNN if he would take any action to reverse the ban, Trump said, "Congress has given me the power to make the decision, so I'll be the one to make the decision."

According to Reuters, in December 2024, US President-elect Donald Trump - who will take office on January 20 - asked the Supreme Court to postpone the divestment deadline to give his new administration the opportunity to pursue a political solution to the issues in the case.

Mr Trump said he has a "warm place in his heart" for TikTok and credited the app with helping him attract young voters in the 2024 election.

On January 16, Mike Waltz, national security adviser in the incoming Trump administration, said the new administration would take steps to prevent TikTok from being shut down, citing a provision in the law that allows a 90-day extension if there is “substantial progress” in divestment.

Previously, sources revealed that TikTok had plans to shut down the application's operations in the US on January 19, unless there was a last-minute postponement.

TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew will attend Trump's inauguration early next week.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/toa-an-toi-cao-my-giu-nguyen-lenh-cam-tiktok-20250117230330995.htm