The bid by TikTok to overturn a law that would result in its ban or sale in the US from early 2025 has been denied.
Despite TikTok’s argument that the law had a significant impact on the free speech of its 170 million US users, a federal appeals court upheld the law.
TikTok has announced that it will escalate the fight to the US Supreme Court, the highest legal authority in the country.
The US government wants TikTok to be sold or banned due to alleged links between its owners and the Chinese state, a claim that TikTok and parent company Bytedance have consistently refuted.
The court supported the law as a measure to counter a national security threat posed by the People’s Republic of China, emphasizing that it was not targeting legitimate businesses.
While TikTok plans to continue its legal battle, it anticipates that the Supreme Court will protect Americans’ right to free speech on this constitutional issue.
The company criticized the law as being based on erroneous information and warned that a ban would infringe on the freedom of US citizens.
The outcome of the 2024 US Presidential Election, won by Donald Trump, could potentially offer a lifeline to TikTok, given his previous stance on the app.
Trump’s inauguration on January 20, the day following the deadline for TikTok’s ban or sale, raises speculation on his possible actions regarding the app.
Experts like Professor James Grimmelmann foresee challenges for the incoming president in reversing the decision and allowing TikTok to operate freely in the US market.
The court case has attracted considerable attention from TikTok users and competitors alike.
While some TikTok creators, like Tiffany Cianci, are prepared to stay loyal to the platform despite the legal challenges, other social media companies are gearing up for a potential shift in the market.
Should TikTok’s appeal fail at the Supreme Court and a ban be implemented, platforms like Meta, YouTube, and Snap stand to benefit while content creators and small businesses relying on TikTok for income may suffer.
However, replicating TikTok’s success won’t be easy, given the complex AI and big data infrastructure powering its recommendation engine.
Concerns over hyper-targeting and data privacy regulations, as seen with Elon Musk’s experience with algorithm changes on his social media platform, X, underscore the challenges of reshaping the social media landscape.
Johnson highlighted the risks associated with algorithm manipulation and favored voices on social media networks, urging caution in the ever-evolving digital landscape.