TikTok divided the USA in two! – TikTok’s future case in the US created conflict between Trump and Republicans
The future of TikTok in the US sparked debate when President-elect Donald Trump appealed to the Supreme Court to block a ban on TikTok. This case has once again pitted free expression rights against national security concerns over the Chinese short video app.
Defending the correctness of the decision taken by the Biden administration and stating that the TikTok ban, which will come into force on January 19, should not be lifted, many Republicans support the ban, fearing that the application could be used by China to spy on Americans or collect data.
The Supreme Court, with its conservative majority, will decide TikTok’s future, and the case says it will consider the U.S. Constitution’s protections for government restrictions on free speech.
HE AIMS TO SOLVE IT AFTER TAKING OFFICE
Congress passed a measure requiring TikTok’s China-based parent company ByteDance to sell the platform or be banned in the United States. The Justice Department argues that TikTok poses a threat to US national security due to its access to large amounts of data on American users. TikTok and ByteDance claim that the law violates the First Amendment.
Trump, who has a warm approach towards TikTok, opposes the ban and aims to solve the problem through political means after taking office. Trump’s official inauguration is one day after the TikTok ban begins.
DIFFERENCES OF OPINIONS OF REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS
Many Republican lawmakers and officials back the Biden administration’s defense of the measure, arguing that allowing TikTok to operate without severing ties with the Chinese Communist Party would expose Americans to risks. The Supreme Court’s decision will have significant consequences for internet freedom in the United States and around the world. If the law remains in force, it could set a precedent for regulating or banning digital platforms with significant participation by foreign investors. Telegram could be the next platform to come under scrutiny.
REMOVAL FROM APP STORES
US lawmakers have notified Apple and Google that they should be ready to remove TikTok from their app stores. According to experts, although users will be able to continue using TikTok after the deadline, without software and security updates, the application will become unusable over time.