What Key Events Unfolded for TikTok on 10th January, 2025, in the U.S.?
Share
On 10th January, 2025, at 10:00 am Eastern Time, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments regarding whether the "ban if not sold" law violates the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. The case pits TikTok against the U.S. Department of Justice. Previously, TikTok filed a lawsuit against the DOJ, arguing that the "ban if not sold" law infringes upon the constitutional protection of free speech. The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the "ban if not sold" law was in compliance with the U.S. Constitution. Consequently, on December 16th, 2024, TikTok and its parent company, ByteDance, filed an emergency application with the U.S. Supreme Court, requesting a temporary injunction to block the law's enforcement.
Over the course of the U.S. government's accusations that TikTok poses a national security threat, the government has consistently employed highly opaque methods. Firstly, during the push for the "ban if not sold" law, the government submitted what it called "classified evidence" and held multiple closed-door meetings to lobby Congress. This included helping to expedite the passage of the TikTok ban in the House behind closed doors. Secondly, when responding to TikTok's appeal, the DOJ filed a document with the Circuit Court containing statements from officials at the NSA, FBI, and DOJ. However, much of this testimony was redacted, even though it formed a key part of the court's decision.
Notably, despite the classified nature of the evidence, the DOJ's statements acknowledged that there was no evidence to suggest that China had attempted to exert control over TikTok. Furthermore, there was no any information to indicate that China was using the TikTok platform to "secretly manipulate the information that Americans receive."
The Supreme Court May Uphold the Injunction, Probably
If TikTok loses the case, the app will be deactivated. It will be removed from app stores, and other service providers will stop allowing access. However, if the Supreme Court issues a preliminary injunction, TikTok will be granted some time to seek a lifeline from incoming President Donald Trump. Trump, who will be inaugurated the day after the deadline, has already requested that the Court delay the law’s enforcement. He has vowed to save the app, and last month, he was spotted having dinner with TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew. The prospect of TikTok finding a buyer appears increasingly unlikely, as the company seems prepared to shut down rather than sell its U.S. assets.