US Supreme Court clears way for TikTok ban

The American Supreme Court unanimously validated on Friday the entry into force of a law threatening the social network TikTok with a ban, but President-elect Donald Trump asked for time to decide whether he will apply it or not .

The decision of the highest American court came just over 36 hours before the limit imposed by Congress on TikTok’s parent company, the Chinese group ByteDance, to sell its subsidiary.

There is no doubt that, for more than 170 million Americans, TikTok offers an important mode of expression, interaction and belonging to a communityestimated the nine senior magistrates.

But Congress determined that its divestment was necessary to address its well-founded national security concernsthey observed.

American elected officials adopted, in April 2024, this law intended to prevent Chinese authorities from accessing the data of users in the United States of the social network or from attempting to manipulate American opinion.

The scale of TikTok and its vulnerability to control by a foreign adversary, combined with the vast range of data collected by the platform, justify differential treatmentinsisted the judges of the Supreme Court.

Deadline: Sunday

Several Republican figures welcomed the decision, including former Vice President Mike Pence, who spoke of a victory for protection [des données personnelles] and the security of the American people.

Requested by theAFPTikTok did not immediately respond.

The law theoretically requires internet providers and app stores to block downloads and updates from midnight on Sunday.

The US Department of Justice announced on Friday that the application of the law would be spread over time, which raises the question of its very short-term effects.

Biden leaves the file to Trump, who says he has need time

The White House estimated that law enforcement [devait] return to the next government, which will take office on Mondayaccording to a statement from the spokesperson, Karine Jean-Pierre.

Donald Trump has, on several occasions, said he is in favor of the application being preserved in the United States, and had even pleaded to the Supreme Court to this effect, asking it to stay its decision, in vain.

On Friday, he stressed that the Court’s decision must be respectedbut says he has need time to rule on the fate of the social network, promising a decision in the fairly near future.

The US president-elect discussed the fate of TikTok during a telephone conversation on Friday with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

A sign of Donald Trump’s openness towards young people’s favorite social network, the boss of TikTok, Shou Chew, is one of the guests of honor for his inauguration ceremony on Monday.

We will put measures in place to prevent TikTok from turning off the lights in the United States, assured Thursday, on the Fox News channel, the Republican elected to the House of Representatives Mike Waltz, appointed National Security Advisor by Donald Trump.

The law allows a postponement if a transaction remains possibleexplained the elected official from Florida. This will give President Trump time to keep TikTok running.

For Mike Waltz, the future head of state intends to preserve the social network while resolving questions relating to possible access by Chinese authorities to the data of American users of TikTok.

Will survive, will not survive?

ByteDance has so far systematically refused to sell TikTok, even if several American investors have positioned themselves, first and foremost businessman Frank McCourt, ready to invest $20 billion.

Content creators on TikTok prepare for possible ban amid great uncertaintyexplains Courtney Spritzer, boss of the digital marketing agency Socialfly, specializing in social networks.

As for advertisers, some are betting on extinction [de la plateforme]while others are more optimistic and think it will continue after Sundayshe added.