TikTok is facing a potential ban in the United States, where it has over 170 million users.
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This came after President Joe Biden signed House Rule 7521 into law in March 2024, also known as the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, which “prohibits distributing, maintaining, or providing internet hosting services for a foreign adversary controlled application,” including TikTok.
The law mandates that ByteDance, TikTok’s Chinese owner, divest itself of the platform by January 19. Failure to comply will result in a ban in the country, making it illegal for app stores and internet hosting services to distribute TikTok.
Driven by national security concerns regarding potential access to U.S. user data by China, the U.S. government enacted this legislation. TikTok and ByteDance, however, have refuted these claims, arguing that the ban constitutes a violation of the Constitution’s free speech protections, as reported by the Associated Press.
The U.S. Supreme Court currently reviewing the legality of this act. If the law takes effect, President-elect Donald Trump’s Justice Department will be tasked with enforcing the ban.
In December 2024, he urged the Supreme Court to halt the implementation of the legislation.
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