Court ruling pushes TikTok on the brink of US ban

International

TIKTOK’S efforts to block a law that could lead to its ban in the United States (US) were dashed when a US appeals court upheld a legislation against the social media platform.

The court rejected TikTok's argument that the law violated the First and Fifth Amendments of the US Constitution, determining that the law does not infringe on free speech or equal protection rights.

This ruling brings TikTok one step closer to facing a US ban, which could take effect as early as January 19, 2025, unless its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, agrees to sell the platform.

After that deadline, US app stores and internet services could face penalties for hosting TikTok.

Although President Biden signed the bill into law in April, there is a provision allowing for a one-time extension of the deadline.

In response to the ruling, TikTok announced plans to appeal, with spokesperson Michael Hughes emphasizing the platform’s importance to its 170 million American users.

“The TikTok ban was conceived based on inaccurate and hypothetical information," he said, adding that it would infringe on the free speech rights of millions.

The law was introduced amid concerns about national security, with lawmakers fearing that TikTok could share user data with the Chinese government or use its algorithm to spread propaganda.

Despite negotiations for a national security agreement, the court sided with the U.S. government, which argued that the law was necessary to mitigate these risks.

Analysts warn that a ban would disrupt the social media landscape, benefiting rivals like Meta, YouTube, and Snap, while hurting content creators and small businesses reliant on the platform.

However, some, including the ACLU, argue that the ban would violate constitutional rights, setting a dangerous precedent.(CMM)