The U.S. Supreme Court ruled on Friday, Jan. 17 that the federal government has the authority to ban ByteDance’s popular video sharing app TikTok. Citing national security concerns over the First Amendment rights of the company and its more than 170 million U.S. user — about half of the country — the ban takes effect on Sunday, Jan. 19.
The decision stems from a bipartisan bill signed by President Biden last April, which required TikTok to either separate from its China-based parent company, ByteDance, or face a U.S. shutdown. Lawmakers feared the Chinese government could use the app to spy on Americans or disseminate pro-China propaganda, however there are few examples of such behavior, according to reports.
TikTok challenged the law in court, arguing that the ban infringed on the free speech rights of both the company and its users. After months of legal wrangling, the Supreme Court heard arguments on Jan. 10 and has now upheld the ban.
Starting Jan. 19, the Apple App Store and Google Play Store will no longer offer TikTok in their app stores. Web-hosting providers are also required to terminate their support for TikTok or face substantial penalties, including fines of $5,000 per user still able to access the platform, according to the decision.
For TikTok’s devoted users, the ruling ends years of uncertainty about the app’s future. Despite its popularity and role as a creative outlet for millions, TikTok’s handling of user data and ties to a foreign adversary prompted serious national security concerns, according to lawmakers.
In its unsigned opinion, the court acknowledged the platform’s cultural significance but emphasized the government’s rationale for the ban.
“There is no doubt that, for more than 170 million Americans, TikTok offers a distinctive and expansive outlet for expression, means of engagement, and source of community. But Congress has determined that divestiture is necessary to address its well-supported national security concerns regarding TikTok’s data collection practices and relationship with a foreign adversary,” the justices wrote.
The court clarified that this ruling is narrowly focused on TikTok and should not be viewed as a precedent for broader actions against other platforms. “Given the expedited time allowed for our consideration, our analysis must be understood to be narrowly focused in light of these circumstances,” the opinion stated.
This landmark decision marks a new chapter in the ongoing debate over the intersection of technology, national security, and free speech in the United States.