The “anti-TikTok” law, which will start on January 19, says that ByteDance must sell TikTok to owners in North America if it wants to keep working in the US. TikTok’s main reasons for opposing the law are that it could limit free speech, affecting its 170 million users in the US, and go against the First Amendment in the constitution.
ByteDance is worried about selling the platform because it would be hard to adjust the new code and give away its developed recommendations technology. The company asked for a temporary stop to the law, but it was rejected by the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.
The Supreme Court’s choice will decide what happens to the law by January 19. The court might decide to postpone it, say it’s not allowed by the Constitution, or let it start working. This development is significant, as Donald Trump is set to take office on January 20, and his willingness to avoid a US ban on TikTok could complicate matters further.
