The Supreme Court's decision to uphold the ban on TikTok unless it's sold to a U.S. company has ignited a firestorm of responses, ranging from celebration to condemnation. The justices affirmed a federal law requiring TikTok's divestiture from its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, citing national security concerns related to data collection and ties to a foreign adversary. This ruling, set to take effect on Sunday, impacts over 170 million American TikTok users.
Former Vice President Mike Pence praised the decision as a win for American privacy and security, emphasizing the bipartisan effort behind the law. Senator Tom Cotton echoed this sentiment, accusing TikTok and ByteDance of using "lies and propaganda" in their legal arguments. Senator Ted Cruz concurred, stating the Chinese government must relinquish control of TikTok. Carrie Severino, President of Judicial Crisis Network, highlighted the danger of the Chinese Communist Party accessing American user data.
Legal experts, privacy advocates, and parents largely viewed the ruling as a positive outcome. American Parents Coalition Executive Director Alleigh Marré celebrated the freedom from TikTok's perceived negative influences on children. Michael Lucci, Founder and CEO of State Arumor, hailed the decision as a validation of efforts to raise awareness about TikTok's potential risks. He called for TikTok to either be sold to an American company or cease operations in the U.S.
However, the ruling also drew criticism. Electronic Frontier Foundation Civil Liberties Director David Greene labeled the decision "anti-democratic," arguing that shutting down communication platforms based on foreign propaganda concerns sets a dangerous precedent. UC Berkeley School of Law Dean Erwin Chemerinsky expressed his belief that the Court erred by accepting the government's arguments without sufficient explanation of the specific security threats. He also emphasized the significant impact on free speech, given TikTok's vast user base.
President Biden maintained his position that he would not enforce the ban, leaving implementation to President-elect Donald Trump's incoming administration. Severino expressed hope that the Trump administration would enforce the law rigorously. The law, passed last year and signed by Biden, mandates ByteDance's divestiture of TikTok due to concerns about potential weaponization and data harvesting by the Chinese government.
