The Supreme Court is likely to support a law that could lead to a ban on TikTok in the United States starting January 19, unless the app is sold by its parent company in China. During a recent hearing, the justices considered the balance between free speech and national security. They appeared to agree that the potential risks from TikTok’s ties to China are more important than the concerns about limiting the speech of the app or its 170 million U.S. users.
Representative John Moolenaar, who leads the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, emphasized that the goal isn’t to eliminate free speech, but rather to reduce risks from a foreign adversary that could manipulate communications and steal personal data from Americans. The TikTok law has been a focus for the committee, which was formed two years ago to address threats from China.
In response, the Chinese embassy in Washington criticized the U.S. for trying to restrict TikTok, arguing that there is no evidence to support claims that the app poses a national security threat. Embassy spokesman Liu Pengyu stated that the U.S. should stop unfairly targeting foreign companies and should create a fair environment for all businesses to operate in the country.
