Trump demands Supreme Court halt TikTok ban now
- President-elect Donald Trump has requested the Supreme Court to delay a law that would either ban TikTok or require it to be sold.
- The ban is based on concerns about national security regarding the Chinese ownership of TikTok and its potential data access.
- The Supreme Court's decision will significantly influence the future of TikTok in the United States and may set precedents for digital rights.
In the United States, President-elect Donald Trump filed a brief with the Supreme Court requesting a pause on the enforcement of a law mandating that TikTok's Chinese parent company, ByteDance, either sell its U.S. operations or face a ban starting January 19, 2025. This law was enacted amid national security concerns regarding the Chinese government's potential influence over American users' data. Trump's legal team argues that the timing of the ban disrupts his administration's ability to address these issues effectively once he takes office on January 20. Trump's position contrasts sharply with his previous administration's efforts to outright ban TikTok during his first term. The looming ban has raised significant outrage among TikTok's 170 million users in the U.S., emphasizing the broader implications for free speech and digital rights in response to an increasingly globalized tech landscape. The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear arguments regarding TikTok's legal challenge on January 10, just days before the deadline.