The Supreme Court ruled against him on Friday, rejecting the appeal filed by the company regarding the ban on the platform’s operation in the country, starting from Sunday.
The unanimous decision is likely to show short-form videos are a top source of information and entertainment for 170 million Americans, especially younger ones.
The rationale for the decision
“There is no question that, for more than 170 million Americans, TikTok provides a distinct and far-reaching outlet for expression,” the ruling states, “but Congress has determined that the ban is necessary to address national security concerns arising out of TikTok’s data collection practices and relationship with a foreign power.”
Accepting the government’s arguments that China’s control of TikTok’s parent company poses a threat to the nation’s security, the court ruled that Congress had the right to bring its owners before the choice between selling the company or suspending operations of in the USA.
The decision, which was issued in an extremely short time frame, is unprecedented, especially in terms of the massive impact the platform has.
When will the shutdown take place?
Although TikTok’s lawyer told judges last week that the app would be shut down immediately if it lost the case, it was unclear how quickly the shutdown would happen.
The decision came two days before the potential ban takes effect and before the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump. Mr. Trump had asked judges to temporarily block the law so he could take up the issue after taking office.
The US president-elect had even considered the possibility of issuing an executive order that could allow TikTok to continue operating despite the pending ban. It remains unclear whether this tactic could stand up legally.
