Coverage by major news outlets reporting on protests or demonstrations

U.S. Supreme Court Upholds TikTok Ban for 170 Million Users on January 19, 2025, Citing National Security Concerns

Jan 17, 2025, 03:51 PM

The U.S. Supreme Court has unanimously upheld a law that will ban TikTok in the United States, effective from midnight on January 19, 2025. The decision, which affects the platform's 170 million American users, was based on national security concerns regarding TikTok's data collection practices and its relationship with a foreign adversary, China. The law requires TikTok's parent company, ByteDance, to divest the app or face a ban from U.S. app stores. The ruling came after arguments from ByteDance that the law violated free speech rights, but the court found that these concerns were outweighed by national security issues. The Biden administration has indicated it will not enforce the ban before President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration on January 20, 2025, leaving the decision to the incoming administration. Trump has expressed intentions to review the situation and has hinted at possibly reversing the ban, citing TikTok's role in engaging young voters during his campaign.