The US President-elect, has requested the Donald Trump has requested the United States Supreme Court to delay the enforcement of a law that could result in the ban of the social media platform TikTok in the United States.
Lawmakers and intelligence officials have cautioned that ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company could influence its relations to the Chinese government to gather sensitive data from the 170 million US users. They also caution that this platform could be used to manipulate public opinions. A bipartisan law requires ByteDance to sell its US operations or face a nationwide ban by 19th January 2025. TikTok’s lawyers have pointed that the platform encourages a special online community that would be destroyed by the ban.
TikTok has challenged the law that orders its baning explaining it violates free speech rights. TikTok’s lawyers noted:
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‘The first Amendment exists to protect free speech in the United States’.
The justice department, however defends the stance of the law stating National Security Risks linked to TikTok’s Chinese roots. Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar mentioned that BryteDance controls TikTok. This could allow the Chinese government to collect sensitive data and potentially carry out covert influence.
In a legal brief, Trump’s team hinted his intent to bring a resolve through negotiations.After taking office on 20th January 2025. D. John Sauer, Trump’s lawyer, has argued that Trump alone posses the consummate dealmaking expertise, the electoral mandate and the political will to negotiate a resolution which could save the platform while addressing the national security concerns expressed by the government.
