What's happened
The U.S. Supreme Court will hear TikTok's appeal against a law that could ban the app in the U.S. The case raises significant First Amendment concerns as TikTok argues the law infringes on free speech rights for its 170 million users. A decision is expected before the January 19 deadline.
Why it matters
What the papers say
The Guardian's Trevor Timm emphasizes the First Amendment implications, stating that the case could set a dangerous precedent for free expression. Meanwhile, The Independent highlights TikTok's attempts to negotiate with Trump, suggesting that political dynamics may influence the court's decision. The NY Post notes that the Supreme Court's expedited hearing reflects the urgency of the situation, with oral arguments scheduled just days before the law takes effect. BBC News points out that the court's decision to hear the case is significant, given its limited docket, indicating the importance of the issues at stake. Business Insider UK underscores the potential consequences for TikTok's 170 million users, framing the case as a critical moment for digital rights in America.
How we got here
The controversy stems from a bipartisan law passed in April 2024, requiring TikTok's parent company, ByteDance, to divest from the app or face a ban due to national security concerns. The law is set to take effect on January 19, 2025.
More on these topics
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ByteDance Ltd. is a Chinese multinational internet technology company headquartered in Beijing. It was founded by Zhang Yiming in 2012. ByteDance is reportedly worth over US$100 billion as of May 2020.
ByteDance's core product, Toutiao, is a content platf
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TikTok/Douyin is a Chinese video-sharing social networking service owned by ByteDance, a Beijing-based Internet technology company founded in 2012 by Zhang Yiming.
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Donald John Trump is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who served as the 45th president of the United States from 2017 to 2021.
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The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court in the federal judiciary of the United States of America. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all federal and state court cases that involve a point of federal law, and original jurisdict
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The First Amendment to the United States Constitution prevents the government from making laws which regulate an establishment of religion, prohibit the free exercise of religion, or abridge the freedom of speech, the freedom of the press, the right to pe
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Shou Zi Chew is a Singaporean businessman and entrepreneur who has served as chief executive officer of TikTok since 2021.