Overview

• The Supreme Court has agreed to hear TikTok's challenge to a federal law mandating its sale or banning the app in the U.S. by January 19, 2025.
• The law, passed in 2024, cites national security risks tied to ByteDance, TikTok's Chinese parent company, including potential data misuse and content manipulation.
• TikTok argues the law violates the First Amendment, while critics say the platform's ties to China pose unique threats not addressed by other tech companies.
• Lower courts upheld the law, with judges emphasizing its focus on national security and its narrow targeting of foreign adversary-controlled apps.
• President-elect Donald Trump has expressed interest in keeping TikTok operational, but his potential actions remain speculative until after his inauguration on January 20.