The U.S. Supreme Court has upheld a law that could ban TikTok in the country if its owner, the Chinese company ByteDance, does not sell the social network. About this informs Associated Press.
The justices unanimously approved the federal bill, saying that the threat to US national security posed by TikTok and its ties to China outweighed the risks posed by a possible restriction on free speech.
The law should enter into force on January 19. After that, new users will not be able to download TikTok through the app stores, and those who are already using the platform will not be able to update the app. According to AP, TikTok’s American audience is currently around 170 million people.
Previously, US President-elect Donald Trump said that the final decision on the fate of TikTok will remain with him:
“At the end of the day, it’s up to me, so you’ll see what I’m going to do.” Trump said.
