Supreme Court to Decide on TikTok Ban by Jan. 19 Amid Trump's Request for Pause

Jan 8, 2025, 11:10 PM

The U.S. Supreme Court is set to hear arguments on Friday regarding a federal law that requires TikTok to divest from its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, by January 19, or face a ban in the U.S. The case pits free speech rights against national security concerns, with TikTok and its 170 million users arguing that the law violates the First Amendment. The Biden administration defends the law, citing the potential threat posed by ByteDance's ownership to national security. President-elect Donald Trump has asked the court to pause the ban, seeking time for his incoming administration to negotiate a resolution, citing his electoral mandate. The outcome of the case could have significant implications for the future of social media and digital communication in the U.S.