The Supreme Court cleans the path for TikTok -ban days before the app will be dark

Washington DC – The Supreme Court on Friday maintained a law that will ban Tiktok In the United States, which potentially denies the video sharing app to 170 million users in two days.

In a large defeat for Tiktok, the court decided that the law does not violate rights to freedom of speech And that the US government had shown legitimate national security problems for a Chinese company that owns the app.

Supreme Court last week heard arguments From the company, replacement dance, that the law would be stopped because it was a violation of freedom of speech.

“There is no doubt that TikTok for more than 170 million Americans offers a distinct and expansive outlet for expression, commitment and source of society,” the justice said.

“But Congress has established that divestment is necessary to address its well -supported national security problems regarding Tiktok’s data collection practice and relationship with a foreign opponent,” they concluded.

With that decision, Sunday’s ban is effective even if legislators and officials across the political spectrum required some form of delay.

Congress adopted overwhelmingly a law last year and forced prey to either sell the platform or Close it in the United States By January 19.

The law was a response to a widespread faith in Washington that the very popular app could be used by China for spying or propaganda.

White House officials told on Friday Media that they would not enforce the ban and leave it up to the presidential election Donald Trumpthat will take up a day later.

Trump said he discussed Tiktok in a phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday.

Trump’s incoming national security adviser Mike Waltz spoke with Fox News on Thursday Keep Tiktok from getting dark. “

“The legislation enables an extension as long as a viable business is on the table,” he said. “In essence, President Trump buys time to keep Tiktok going.”

“It has been a good platform for him and his campaign to get his America’s first message,” he added. “But at the same time he wants to protect (user’s) data.”

The Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer on Thursday also demanded that a threatening Tiktok ban be delayed.

“It is clear that more time is needed to find an American buyer and not to disturb lives and livelihoods for millions of Americans, by so many influencers who have built up a good network of followers,” Schumer said.

To implement the ban, the US government would direct Apple and Google to remove Tiktok from its app stores and prevent new downloads that begin the day before Trump will take up.

Tiktok lawyer Noel Francisco stated that the site would “get dark” on Sunday if the justice did not block the ban, and a media report said that the company was planning a complete suspension of the service in the United States.

Campaigns before election in November, Trump promised to save tictok And his team has molen ways to stop the ban or save the app.

When Trump takes office, the implementation of the law will fall into his national lawyer, who can choose not to execute it, or stay, defies the congressional support for the legislation.

TikTok has lobbying furiously to prevent the implementation of the law and CEO Shou Chew Will Participate in Trump’s inauguration On Monday. TikTok did not respond to a request for comment.