The Supreme Court of the United States has upheld the law banning TikTok in the country, putting the video-sharing app at risk of a shutdown in the US as early as this Sunday.
In a bipartisan effort in April last year, lawmakers from both the Republican and Democratic parties voted to ban the social media platform over concerns about its connections to the Chinese government, an allegation TikTok has consistently denied.
The law in question allows TikTok’s China-based parent company ByteDance until January 19, 2025, to sell the US version of the social media platform to a neutral party to prevent an outright ban.
TikTok had challenged the law in court, arguing that it would infringe upon the free speech rights of its more than 170 million users in North America.
However, judges at the US Supreme Court on Friday, January 17, 2025, unanimously rejected this argument, meaning TikTok faces a race against time to find an approved buyer for the US version of the app or risk removal from app stores and web hosting services.
In the ruling, which saw no dissenting opinions, the highest court in the US held that the law did not violate the First Amendment protection of free speech.
The justices upheld a lower court’s decision that affirmed the statute after it was challenged by ByteDance.
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"There is no doubt that, for more than 170 million Americans, TikTok offers a distinctive and expansive outlet for expression, engagement, and community," the Supreme Court stated.
"However, Congress has determined that divestiture is necessary to address its well-supported national security concerns regarding TikTok’s data collection practices and its relationship with a foreign adversary."
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As a result, the video-sharing app may no longer be accessible to new users on Apple and Google or provide any security updates to current users, which could signal its demise.
Meanwhile, ByteDance has vowed not to sell TikTok and would prefer to shut down US operations on Sunday unless a last-minute reprieve occurs.
The White House indicated it would defer the law’s enforcement to President Donald Trump‘s incoming administration, which takes office on Monday, January 20, 2025, with Trump promising to make a decision in the "not too distant future".
Reacting on his social media platform Truth Social on Friday, the incoming President wrote: "The Supreme Court decision was expected, and everyone must respect it."
"My decision on TikTok will be made in the not-too-distant future, but I must have time to review the situation. Stay tuned!"
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Trump also revealed that he had spoken to President Xi Jinping of China via phone and discussed TikTok, among other topics.
TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew, who is expected to attend Trump’s inauguration with other high-profile guests, expressed his gratitude to the incoming President for his commitment to work with the app and ensure its continued operation in the US.
