TikTok confirms it will shut down in US this month

• The Supreme Court is set to hear oral arguments on whether TikTok’s potential ban violates the First Amendment from users and the Department of Justice on January 10th.

• President Biden signed the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act in April 2024, urging TikTok to cut ties with Chinese-owned parent company ByteDance or face a US ban.

TikTok has announced its intention to cease operations if the Supreme Court does not intervene to prevent the enforcement of a law that seeks to impose a ban on the video-sharing platform in the United States by January 19th.

The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear oral arguments regarding the potential ban’s implications for the First Amendment rights of TikTok and its users, as well as the Department of Justice, on Friday, January 10th.

In April 2024, President Joe Biden enacted legislation compelling TikTok to sever its connections with its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, or risk a permanent prohibition in the United States. This legislation, known as the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, was introduced to address concerns over national security related to ByteDance’s access to TikTok’s user data.

President-elect Donald Trump, who is set to take office on January 20th, has submitted an amicus brief to the Supreme Court requesting a postponement of the case to allow his administration additional time to seek a “political resolution.” Notably, during his initial term, Trump advocated for a TikTok ban due to its Chinese affiliations.

Nevertheless, during the 2024 presidential campaign, he seemed to shift his position, acknowledging the app’s effectiveness in engaging younger voters.