The United States Supreme Court is leaning toward upholding a law that could ban TikTok app unless its Chinese parent company ByteDance sells the platform before January 19th. The debate has sparked concerns over national security and free speech for over 170 million US users.

The Ban and the Debate

The US government argues that TikTok poses a security risk due to its potential links with the Chinese government. Officials worry about that the user's data could be exploited for spying or influencing politics. The law mandates ByteDance to either sell TikTok's US operations or face a complete shutdown. However ByteDance  has refused to sell the platform.

TikTok’s legal team claims the ban would violate user's free speech rights protected under the First Amendment. The platform's lawyers argue that TikTok is primarily a space for creative expression and communication not a national threat.

Congressional Support and Public Reaction

Both Democrats and Republicans supported the legislation citing concerns over the app’s influence and data security. If the ban is enforced, tech giants like Apple and Google will have to remove TikTok from their app stores, effectively killing its accessibility in the US.

More than 100 TikTok users including small business owners and students gathered outside the Supreme Court to protest the potential ban. Many creators fear about losing their income and community if the app is banned.

National Security vs Free Speech

US Government lawyers claim that TikTok’s ties to ByteDance make it vulnerable to Chinese government's control. Justice department representatives warned that China could misuse TikTok to harm the US.

However TikTok’s lawyers argue that banning the platform sets a dangerous precedent for censorship. They insist that ideas even if politically charged don’t constitute a security threat.

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Trump’s Involvement

Former President Donald Trump set to return to the White House soon and has called for a delay in the court’s decision. He hopes to find a political solution to the issue.

What’s Next.?