The Supreme Court on Friday upheld a law mandating the social media giant TikTok sell its U.S. subsidiary or face a ban in the United States, setting the stage for the app potentially to be banned as early as this weekend.
The unanimous unsigned opinion found that Congress had legitimate concerns about the Chinese government’s ability to access user data that justified the law’s effective ban of the app. The law did not violate the First Amendment, the justices said, despite a challenge from TikTok and the app’s users arguing that it violated their free-speech rights.
“There is no doubt that, for more than 170 million Americans, TikTok offers a distinctive and expansive outlet for expression, means of engagement, and source of community,” the decision said. “But Congress has determined that divestiture is necessary to address its well-supported national security concerns regarding TikTok’s data collection practices and relationship with a foreign adversary.”
