LISTEN LIVE: Supreme Court hears arguments on whether TikTok can be banned in free speech case
PBS NewsHourJan 08
Supreme Court to Decide on TikTok's US Fate
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Above: A smartphone screen on Dec. 31, 2024 in Bath, England. Image copyright: Anna Barclay/Contributor/Getty Images News via Getty Images
The Facts
The US Supreme Court will hear arguments on Friday in a pivotal case that could determine whether TikTok will be banned in the US by Jan. 19.
Congress passed bipartisan legislation in April 2024 requiring ByteDance — TikTok's Chinese parent company — to sell the platform or face a national ban in the US, citing security concerns about potential data sharing with China.
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
This ban is critical to protecting national security, as TikTok's Chinese ownership poses grave risks through potential data collection and manipulation of American users. The government has legitimate concerns about ByteDance's ability to access user data and spread disinformation under Chinese law.
Establishment-critical narrative
This legislation unfairly targets TikTok without concrete evidence of wrongdoing, and violates the fundamental free speech rights of millions of Americans. The platform operates independently from ByteDance, and the US government has failed to demonstrate concrete evidence of national security threats that justify such extreme measures.
