The Shocking and Devastating Fate of TikTok in the United States: Supreme Court Battle and Its Dire Consequences
The fate of TikTok in the United States now lies with the Supreme Court, and the outlook appears grim for the popular app. On Friday, the court heard oral arguments regarding a law that could effectively ban TikTok in the country. This law, signed by President Joe Biden in April, mandates that TikTok must be divested from its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, or face a U.S. ban.
The hearing did not seem favorable for TikTok, increasing the likelihood of the ban taking effect on January 19. Most justices seemed inclined to uphold the law, challenging TikTok’s legal team on their argument that the law infringes upon the First Amendment.
The practical implementation of the ban remains unclear, as there is no precedent for the U.S. government blocking a major social media platform. Details on how the government plans to enforce the ban are still ambiguous.
Removed from app stores
TikTok attorney Noel Francisco admitted uncertainty about the specifics of the ban’s implementation. He suggested that on January 19, TikTok would cease operations, stating, “we shut down.” He further explained that beyond being unavailable in app stores, the law would prevent service providers from supporting TikTok, effectively halting its operations.
TikTok’s emergency filing to the Supreme Court warned that if the law isn’t blocked, it would “shut down TikTok for its more than 170 million monthly American users.” Despite this, TikTok won’t instantly vanish from users’ phones.
If the ban is enforced, T.T is expected to be removed from app stores like Google and Apple. New users won’t be able to download it, and existing users won’t receive updates, leaving the app vulnerable to bugs and security threats. Over time, this could make the app difficult or even impossible to use.
Cybersecurity expert Eva Galperin noted that unpatched vulnerabilities could allow hackers to compromise accounts or devices. However, it might take weeks or months before users experience significant issues.
The government could also compel internet service providers (ISPs) to block TikTok’s web access, although this approach is more complex due to the higher number of ISPs compared to app stores.
Are you able to circumvent a ban?
Despite the looming ban, users might still find ways around it, such as using virtual private networks (VPNs) to mask their location and access TikTok from other countries. Galperin pointed out that similar measures have been used in countries like Turkey, where social media sites have been blocked for years.
Even if the ban takes effect, it might not be permanent. ByteDance could still sell T.T to a non-Chinese owner, potentially restoring U.S. access. There are already interested buyers, including a group led by billionaire Frank McCourt and investor Kevin O’Leary, who have submitted a formal bid to acquire T.T’s U.S. assets.
Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar argued that the ban might push ByteDance to proceed with divestiture. She suggested that the restrictions could be the “jolt” needed for ByteDance to take action.
Adding to the uncertainty is President-elect Donald Trump’s stance. He has promised to save T.T and filed a brief urging the court to delay the ban’s implementation to allow time for negotiation. Legal experts speculate that Trump might choose not to enforce the law or signal to Apple and Google that they won’t face penalties for hosting T.T.
However, Justice Sonia Sotomayor expressed concern about companies choosing to ignore the law based on assurances from the new administration. She emphasized that regardless of presidential actions, the law remains in effect, and companies may not be willing to risk non-compliance.
In summary, T.T faces a precarious future in the U.S., with potential pathways for circumventing or reversing the ban, but significant legal and operational hurdles remain.
