When might the TikTok ban start? When will SCOTUS weigh in? What you should know

In less than a month, TikTok could be banned from app stores across the United States. But in a last-minute decision, the Supreme Court agreed to hear arguments from TikTok and its Chinese parent company as to why a ban could be unconstitutional.

This spring, President Joe Biden signed into law a law that would ban TikTok in January if its Chinese parent company ByteDance doesn’t sell it. The legislation has been in the works for several years as government officials fear TikTok poses a national security risk.

If ByteDance does not sell TikTok by January 19, distribution of the app through the Apple App Store and Google Play Store will be illegal. Internet service providers must also ensure that the app is not accessible in US Internet browsers.

Here’s what you should know about the TikTok ban and when SCOTUS will review the legislation.

When will the Supreme Court review the TikTok ban?

The Supreme Court will consider TikTok’s arguments on January 10, 2025, just over a week before the ban could be implemented.

Holiday offers: Shop this season’s top products and special offers, curated by our editors.

What is TikTok asking SCOTUS to do?

TikTok wants SCOTUS to overturn a ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit that found the law’s violation of free speech rights was justified by national security concerns.

When might the TikTok ban come into effect?

The ban will take effect on Sunday, January 19, 2025 if ByteDance does not sell the platform by then.

Could TikTok be bought?

Although China has been vocal in its opposition to selling TikTok in the past, billionaire Frank McCourt and a group of partners have expressed interest in buying the U.S. portion of the platform. McCourt, founder of Project Liberty and chairman of McCourt Global, said a consortium of partners had verbally committed up to $20 billion to the purchase.

However, if McCourt were to buy TikTok, it would only be the U.S. portion and would not include the TikTok algorithm, which China considers its intellectual property, McCourt told CBS’s “Face the Nation” earlier this month.

Does Donald Trump want to ban TikTok?

President-elect Donald Trump’s vision for TikTok when he takes office is unclear. Although he took steps to fend off ByteDance during his first term, he has recently expressed different feelings about the app.

Last week, Trump said during a press conference that he has a “warm heart” for TikTok because he believes the app helped him gain traction among young voters in the 2024 presidential election.

“TikTok has had an impact, and that’s why we’re taking a look at it,” Trump said. “I have a small, warm place in my heart. I’ll be honest.

USA TODAY has reached out to Trump’s team for comment.

Why did the government introduce the ban?

National security concerns arise from concerns that Beijing-based ByteDance has access to American data and shares it with the Chinese government.

In 2020, Trump issued an executive order on TikTok. According to the Trump White House archive website, as part of the order, Trump sought to ban TikTok in the United States and prohibit any transactions with the company. However, this ban was never put into effect.

In 2021, Biden revoked Trump’s proposed ban and issued a new executive order on ByteDance, saying the company “continues to threaten the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States,” according to a U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia district court opinion , Federal Appeals Court Opinion, States. In 2022, Biden signed a bill banning the use of TikTok on government devices.

What is TikTok?

TikTok is a social media application known for its short videos. Users can create, publish and interact with videos within the app. Known for its scrolling algorithm, TikTok allows users to post videos between three seconds and ten minutes in length. Users can add various filters, backgrounds, music and stickers to their videos.

Contributors: Maureen Groppe and Karissa Waddick

Greta Cross is a national trends reporter for USA TODAY. Follow her on X and Instagram @gretalcross. Story idea? Email her at [email protected].

Related Posts

Norad Santa Tracker live: Follow Santa Claus and his reindeer around the globe

The Astros trade OF Kyle Tucker to the Cubs after a crazy 72-hour window

Source – UCLA fires offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy

Leave a Reply Cancel reply