In a momentous clash at the Supreme Court, the fate of TikTok hangs in the balance as closing written arguments were made on Friday. The government insists that ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, sell the app’s operations in the U.S. or shut it down due to national security concerns and potential Chinese influence. The Supreme Court will hear arguments at a special session next Friday and a decision could come this month before the Jan. 19 deadline set by the law.
TikTok users argued in their brief that the app has become a vital source of information and entertainment for millions of Americans, highlighting the app’s role in free speech and media consumption. They stressed that disclosure of foreign influence is a more effective and less restrictive option than outright censorship.
The government, represented by U.S. solicitor general Elizabeth B. Prelogar, maintained that the First Amendment does not require the U.S. to tolerate foreign control over critical infrastructure like TikTok. They argued that the U.S. did not tolerate Soviet-owned radio stations during the Cold War and should not tolerate Chinese control of TikTok today.
TikTok, in their response, disputed the government’s claims of censorship and manipulation, stating that they have never removed or restricted content at China’s request. The case, TikTok v. Garland, has garnered significant attention as the court considers the balance between national security concerns and free speech rights in the digital age. The fate of the popular social media platform remains uncertain pending the court’s decision.
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