Supreme Court to Hear TikTok Ban Challenge

The U.S. Supreme Court is set to hear a pivotal case regarding TikTok on January 10, determining the fate of the app amid national security concerns raised by its Chinese parent company, ByteDance. A law passed by Congress demands that ByteDance divest TikTok by January 19, citing risks of espionage and data manipulation, a stance supported by President Biden. However, TikTok argues this law infringes upon First Amendment rights, with President-elect Donald Trump surprisingly backing the app against the wishes of many Republicans. The case highlights a split in the GOP, as some lawmakers advocate for Trump's negotiation approach while others support the ban. Legal experts call it a significant free speech issue, raising alarms about potential authoritarian precedents if the ban is upheld. As the deadline approaches, the Supreme Court's conservative majority faces pressure to navigate the complexities of national security versus free expression.