The Ongoing Legal Battle and Implications of the TikTok Ban in the U.S.
Ban on TikTok has become a prominent issue in today’s USA. Being a popular app, it has attracted attention not only inside the USA but also around the world. A widespread debate has begun regarding the app’s legal and political side. TikTok, a Chinese-owned platform, has been facing issues with the latest decision by the federal court.
As of now, the ban is going to take place in January 2025. But there is more to it. Expectedly, the case would go to the Supreme Court. Moreover, political figures in the USA, including the newly-elected President Donald Trump could undermine the decision to ban the platform by the court. Let us dive into key developments of the case, its implications and the potential future outcomes of the ban.
The Federal Appeals Court’s Ruling
A Federal Court upheld the TikTok ban in the USA on 06 December 2024. The ban is going to take effect on 19 January 2025. Soon after the decision, the platform TikTok filed a legal suit. The federal government demands that TikTok separate from its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, or face a ban in the USA.
Among other arguments, TikTok has pressed upon their right under the First Amendment. The platform has argued that parting ways with ByteDance is not possible technologically, commercially, or legally. The government argues that the ban is essential for national security, alleging that the platform collects user data that could be exploited by China. It is important to note that the government has sealed specific evidence regarding the TikTok ban, raising questions about the transparency of the entire process.
The appeals court has taken the side of the federal government citing that the ban does not violate TikTok’s First Amendment rights. The major argument presented by the court is that the main purpose of the ban is to free TikTok from China. Further, the court argued that the TikTok divestiture from ByteDance is the least restrictive thing they have directed in the face of national security concerns.
TikTok’s Response and Potential Supreme Court Appeal
TikTok’s administration has strongly opposed the court’s ruling calling it based on hypothetical information without any solid true evidence. The ban would affect millions of users and their businesses in the country. In the aftermath of the court’s rulings, the TikTok spokesperson namely Michael Hughes has indicated that the platform intends to go to the Supreme Court to reverse the decision of the ban on the ground of protecting their freedom of speech.
Currently, it is unclear how many days TikTok will take for the appeal. TikTok could request the Supreme Court to block the enforcement of the appeals court decision allowing the app to continue operating. Whatever the decision comes, it will certainly have profound consequences for TikTok in the country.
What Will Happen if the Ban Takes Effect?
If the TikTok decision is enforced on 19 January 2025, TikTok will face severe operational challenges in the USA. First of all, the app would be removed from Apple and Google Play stores. Hence, no new downloads or updates would be available to the users. With time, the app would be rendered inoperable in the country.
The ban would not be limited to Apple or Google stores. The ban would also affect the internet service providers that enable the platform distribution, particularly Oracle. These internet service providers would either have to block access to the app or face dire consequences. While there has been no comment from TikTok about how they are going to pay the creators if the ban takes place.
Political Implications and Donald Trump’s Role
The ban is expected to take place in January 2025 when the newly elected President Donald Trump is also going to take office in the same month. The TikTok ban could have political ramifications as Trump is opposing the ban. While it is not certain that Trump would reverse or delay court decision speculations are still there.
As a President, Donald Trump has limitations but he can influence the outcome of the TikTok ban episode. Three scenarios are possible what Donald Trump could do. Trump could lobby Congress to repeal the law but it is highly unlikely due to support for ban in the Congress. Similarly, Trump can influence the Justice Department to not enforce or delay the law. However, companies like Apple and Google would still have to remove the TikTok app from their stores. A more likely approach is that Trump could declare that TikTok has enough divested from Byte Dance. However, it would further lead to legal challenges.
Public Sentiment and the TikTok Debate
The TikTok platform has over 170 million active users in the country. Millions of creators rely on the app to earn money for their livelihood. According to the Pew Research Center, only 32 per cent of Americans support the TikTok ban in mid-2024. In 2023, the percentage was about 50 percent. It really shows the popularity of TikTok with the passage of time particularly in the younger generation.
International Context: Global Action Against TikTok
The USA is not the only country which is limiting TikTok in the country. Canada recently closed down TikTok’s operations and closed its office in the country. However, Canada did not impose a full ban. Similarly, Australia, New Zealand and other European nations have banned the app on government devices due to security concerns.
The main allegation on the platform is that it is working for the Chinese government. The app is spying on its users and tracking their data. Although the company denies the allegations, experts assess that China’s expanding global influence poses increasing challenges for the platform.
Surprising Revelations: Concerns Over Data and Content Manipulation
Forbes has reported on TikTok regarding its alleged spying on journalists and tracking sensitive political terms. While the TikTok platform has denied these claims from time to time. However it is acknowledged that the app does store users’ data. In the court ruling, the court has also cited the same Forbes report as a piece of evidence.
Conclusion: The Future of TikTok in the U.S.
The future of TikTok in the United States is uncertain as legal, political, and public sentiment continue to evolve. With the potential for the case to go to the Supreme Court, there is still hope for TikTok to overturn the ban or at least delay its implementation. However, the concerns over national security and foreign influence remain central to the ongoing debate. Whether the app survives in the U.S. or faces a more permanent ban, the case will have lasting implications for digital platforms and international relations moving forward