TikTok is set to vanish from US app stores at midnight on January 19th. The Supreme Court’s unanimous decision backs a nationwide ban due to valid concerns over national security and data privacy. This ruling supports both the outgoing Biden administration and a law passed by Congress that requires TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, to sell the app or face removal from platforms like Apple and Google.
The court recognized TikTok’s role for over 170 million Americans as a space for expression and community. Yet, they ruled that divesting the app is necessary to protect national security, citing serious concerns about how TikTok collects data and its ties to China.
Craig Singleton from a Washington think tank shared that this ruling validates fears about the risks of Chinese-owned apps. He noted that while the US courts provided due process to ByteDance, such treatment is not reciprocated in China. Also, he mentioned that China is preparing for this outcome by encouraging its users to switch to other apps like Lemon8 and Little Red Book, emphasizing the constant need for vigilance against threats to national discourse.
While other countries have imposed bans on TikTok, primarily on government devices, this is the first outright ban on such a popular service in a major market. The impact will hit small businesses, creators, and influencers in the US hard, but it will also touch those in the UK and Europe who rely on the platform for customers.
However, TikTok’s future isn’t entirely bleak. The Biden administration hinted it might hold off enforcement until after Donald Trump’s inauguration on January 20th. Trump, who faced backlash for attempting to ban TikTok during his presidency, has recently praised the app for mobilizing younger voters and suggested he might consider a solution to keep it running.
Trump shared on his social media platform that he will take time to review the situation before making a decision. TikTok’s CEO, Shou Zi Chew, expressed gratitude for Trump’s willingness to work on a solution, highlighting a commitment to the First Amendment against censorship.
Singleton noted that a deal brokered by Trump could secure US control of TikTok’s data and algorithm, reinforcing American security while still engaging with foreign companies thoughtfully.