Supreme Court to Hear Arguments on TikTok Ban as Deadline Nears

The court will decide the legality of a federal law requiring TikTok's separation from ByteDance or its removal from U.S. app stores, with national security and free speech at the center of the debate.

The Supreme Court will hear oral arguments on January 10 regarding a federal law mandating TikTok's divestment from ByteDance or its ban in the U.S., with the law set to take effect January 19 unless blocked.
The federal government argues TikTok's ties to China pose national security risks, including potential data misuse and covert content manipulation, though evidence remains classified.
TikTok and its creators claim the law violates First Amendment rights, arguing the ban would silence millions of users and that less restrictive alternatives were not adequately considered.
Investor Kevin O’Leary has expressed interest in purchasing TikTok as part of a consortium, but ByteDance has not indicated willingness to sell, and China's approval would be required for any sale.
President-elect Donald Trump has requested a pause on the law's implementation to explore a political resolution, though his ability to intervene remains uncertain until after his inauguration.