In less than one month, TikTok could be banned in the United States if its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, does not sell the app. The U.S. government has raised national security concerns, and the fate of the popular social media platform now lies in the hands of the Supreme Court. Here’s what you need to know about the potential ban and the ongoing legal battle.
The Potential Ban
On January 19, 2025, TikTok could be removed from the Apple App Store and Google Play Store in the United States. If ByteDance does not comply with a U.S. law requiring it to sell TikTok by that date, the app will be rendered illegal for distribution on U.S. mobile devices. This would also apply to internet service providers, which would be required to block access to the app on U.S. browsers.
This move comes after years of growing concern from U.S. lawmakers about TikTok’s ties to China and potential national security risks. The fear is that the Chinese government could force ByteDance to provide access to sensitive American user data. In response, TikTok has consistently denied these allegations, stating that U.S. user data is stored outside of China.
Supreme Court’s Role
The Supreme Court has agreed to review TikTok’s case on January 10, 2025, just a week before the potential ban could go into effect. TikTok is asking the Court to overturn a ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, which upheld the potential ban, citing national security concerns as a valid justification.
The U.S. government argues that TikTok poses a risk to national security due to the data it collects from American users. In 2021, President Joe Biden revoked an executive order from the Trump administration that sought to ban TikTok, but the concerns about the app’s data practices have persisted.
TikTok’s Response
TikTok is fighting the ban, arguing that it violates free speech rights. The platform has become an integral part of social media culture, particularly among younger users, and TikTok’s legal team believes that the ban would unjustly infringe on their rights. The outcome of the Supreme Court review could determine whether the ban will proceed or whether the app will be allowed to continue operating in the U.S.
Could TikTok Be Sold?
If ByteDance is forced to sell TikTok, there is a possibility that the U.S. portion of the app could be purchased by an interested party. Billionaire Frank McCourt, founder of Project Liberty, has expressed interest in buying the U.S. part of TikTok, along with a group of investors. McCourt has pledged up to $20 billion for the acquisition. However, any sale would not include TikTok’s algorithm, which remains a highly valued piece of intellectual property that is closely guarded by China.
China has opposed the sale of TikTok in the past, making the future of any potential sale uncertain. If McCourt’s bid is successful, the sale would only affect the U.S. portion of the platform and would not include TikTok’s highly influential algorithm, which would remain under ByteDance’s control.
Trump Administration’s Influence
The debate over TikTok’s future has been ongoing for several years, with former President Donald Trump playing a key role in attempting to ban the app. In 2020, Trump issued an executive order aiming to prohibit TikTok in the U.S., citing national security risks. This order sought to prevent U.S. companies from engaging in business with ByteDance, but it was never fully implemented.
In 2021, President Biden reversed Trump’s ban and took a different approach by focusing on ByteDance’s potential threats to national security. While Biden has not directly called for a ban, his administration has raised concerns about TikTok’s data practices. The Biden administration has also banned TikTok on government devices, further fueling the debate.
In recent comments, Trump expressed a more positive stance on TikTok, acknowledging that the app had helped him connect with younger voters during the 2024 presidential election. He even mentioned having a “warm spot” for TikTok despite his previous efforts to block it. However, Trump has continued to highlight national security concerns surrounding the app.
National Security Concerns
The core issue driving the potential ban is national security. U.S. lawmakers have raised concerns that ByteDance, based in Beijing, could be compelled by the Chinese government to access American user data. TikTok has repeatedly denied these allegations, asserting that it stores U.S. user data on servers outside of China and operates independently from the Chinese government.
Despite these assurances, the U.S. government remains wary of TikTok’s ties to China, especially as the platform has grown exponentially in the United States. TikTok’s data collection practices, including gathering information on user locations, browsing habits, and interactions, have raised red flags among U.S. officials.
The Future of TikTok in the U.S.
As the Supreme Court prepares to review TikTok’s case, the future of the app in the U.S. remains uncertain. If the Court rules in favor of the government, the app could be banned, forcing millions of users to find alternatives. On the other hand, if the Court rules in favor of TikTok, the app may continue to operate in the U.S., though the company will likely face increased scrutiny over its data practices.
The potential sale of TikTok’s U.S. operations could provide an alternative solution, but with China’s opposition to such a sale, it’s unclear whether that option will materialize.
For now, TikTok’s fate rests on the outcome of the legal battle and the ongoing debate over its national security risks. With the Supreme Court’s review scheduled for January 10, 2025, the next few weeks will be crucial in determining whether TikTok remains available to U.S. users or becomes another casualty of the ongoing geopolitical tensions between the U.S. and China.
