Supreme Court Ruling Threatens TikTok's U.S. Future

The U.S. Supreme Court has unanimously upheld a law that mandates a ban on TikTok unless its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, divests its ownership by January 19 due to national security concerns. This decision, which prioritizes security over First Amendment rights, could affect 170 million American users as the app may become unavailable for download and updates after Sunday. The Biden administration appears unlikely to enforce the ban, leaving the decision to the incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump, who has expressed a willingness to potentially save TikTok. Trump has indicated he might issue an executive order to delay enforcement, although it's uncertain if he possesses the legal authority to do so. The court's ruling has resulted in increased urgency for a sale, with potential buyers waiting in the wings, but Chinese regulatory restrictions complicate the sale of the app, particularly its proprietary algorithm. The law has bipartisan support in Congress, reflecting widespread concern over data privacy and espionage risks associated with Chinese ownership of the platform.