The U.S. Supreme Court has cleared the way for a law that could ban TikTok in the country within days, citing national security concerns. The fate of the app now lies in Donald Trump’s hands, who has previously opposed banning TikTok but appears to be reconsidering.

This week, the U.S. Supreme Court reviewed ByteDance’s appeal against the law but ultimately rejected it. Now, all attention shifts to Donald Trump, set to be inaugurated on January 20. The President-elect previously stated he “opposes banning” TikTok but has yet to finalize his stance.

“There is no doubt that, for more than 170 million Americans, TikTok provides a unique and expansive platform for expression, engagement, and community,” reads the Supreme Court’s unanimous ruling (courtesy of BBC).

“However, Congress has determined that divestiture is necessary to address its well-documented national security concerns regarding TikTok’s data collection practices and its ties to a foreign adversary. Therefore, we find that the contested provisions do not violate the petitioners’ First Amendment rights.”

National security concerns formed the crux of the debate. The court ruled that “TikTok’s size and vulnerability to foreign influence, coupled with the massive amounts of sensitive data it collects, justify the Government’s distinct approach to addressing these concerns.”

ByteDance argued that the law infringes on free speech rights. With this argument dismissed, the company now faces two options: sell the U.S. arm of TikTok to an approved buyer or see the app banned entirely. ByteDance’s legal team told the court that TikTok might “go dark” if the law is enforced. Without last-minute political intervention or a buyer, it remains uncertain whether ByteDance would shut the app down entirely in the U.S.

The Justice Department welcomed the decision, stating it enables them to “stop the Chinese government from weaponizing TikTok to compromise America’s national security,” said Attorney General Merrick Garland. “Authoritarian regimes should not have unfettered access to millions of Americans’ sensitive data.”

Donald Trump, who threatened to ban TikTok during his first term, has softened his position. Speaking to CNN, he remarked, “The final call is mine, so you’ll see what I’m going to do.” On social media, he added, “My decision on TikTok will be announced soon, but I need time to thoroughly review the situation. Stay tuned!”

In response to the looming ban, some U.S.-based TikTok users have shifted to another Chinese-owned app, Rednote, where jokes about “Chinese spies” abound. However, TikTok’s 170 million U.S. users remain a lucrative audience, attracting rumored interest from figures like former Activision CEO Bobby Kotick. On a lighter note, MrBeast joked about purchasing the app himself.

The latest twist? TikTok posted on X, stating that unless there’s a shift in policy, it will “be forced to go dark” on Sunday. The message added: “Without immediate assurances from the Biden Administration addressing critical service provider concerns, TikTok will unfortunately cease operations in the U.S. on January 19.”

Source: PC Gamer