The Supreme Court has upheld a controversial law mandating TikTok’s China-based parent company, ByteDance, to sell its American operations by January 19 or face an outright ban in the United States.
The decision comes after ByteDance challenged the law, arguing that it infringes on the free speech rights of over 170 million TikTok users in the US. However, the nation’s highest court rejected these claims. This has reinforced the legal pressure on TikTok to cut ties with its Chinese ownership.
Critics claim TikTok could be compelled to share sensitive user data with Beijing. A claim ByteDance has consistently denied.
The ruling now sets a tight deadline for TikTok to secure an approved buyer for its US operations. The stakes are high not just for ByteDance, but also for the millions of creators, businesses, and users who rely on TikTok for entertainment, marketing, and income.
President-elect Donald Trump has also expressed his opposition to the ban, urging the Supreme Court to delay the law’s implementation.
