Former US President Donald Trump has asked the Supreme Court to suspend a law that could lead to a ban on TikTok in the country. According to the statement, he plans to address this issue upon his return to the White House, which is expected on 20 January, AFP reports.
The essence of the case
A law passed by Congress in April obliges the Chinese company ByteDance, which owns TikTok, to sell its US business by 19 January. Otherwise, the popular app, which has 170 million users in the country, will be banned. The law is intended to prevent possible espionage and manipulation by the Chinese authorities.
TikTok denies the allegations of data transfer to the Chinese government and has filed an appeal with the Supreme Court, which will hear the case on 10 January.
Trump’s position
Trump’s lawyers have said that he will not take a position on the merits of the dispute, but is calling for a delay in the implementation of the law. Trump wants to be able to reach a compromise that will preserve the platform, given its popularity among young people.
“President Trump has the experience, mandate, and political will to resolve the situation in a way that preserves the platform while ensuring US national security,” the lawyers said in a statement.
Why it matters
Trump, who had previously criticised TikTok, now recognises its importance as a tool for reaching young audiences. He recently met with TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chu and expressed his support for the platform.
TikTok and ByteDance argue that the law violates the freedom of speech guaranteed by the First Amendment of the US Constitution. At the same time, the adoption of the law on the eve of Trump’s inauguration, according to lawyers, complicates its ability to effectively address this issue.
The Supreme Court will consider the constitutionality of the law in January, and this could be a key moment in TikTok’s fight to maintain its presence in the US.
