entertainment

TikTok Seeks Supreme Court Block on U.S. Ban

17-12-2024

TikTok has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to block a federal law that could ban its operations in the U.S. by January 19, 2025, unless its Chinese parent, ByteDance, divests ownership.

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The Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act prohibits TikTok from operating in the U.S. without severing ties to ByteDance. The law aims to address national security concerns.

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Last week, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit upheld the law. TikTok argues the ban violates First Amendment rights and would cause irreparable harm for the creators community monetizing their content on the platform.

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TikTok has more than 170 million users in the U.S.  "TikTok is asking the court to do what it has traditionally done in free speech cases: apply the most rigorous scrutiny to speech bans and conclude that it violates the First Amendment," TikTok spokesperson has stated.

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Chief Justice John Roberts will oversee the emergency request. The court may: Temporarily block the law for further review. Fast-track arguments to decide by January 19. Reject TikTok's appeal, allowing the law to take effect.

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TikTok, a cultural powerhouse since its 2018 U.S. launch, heavily influences American life. Popular with Gen Z and millennials, it delivers news, entertainment, and shopping through its addictive, personalized video feed.

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