The impending ban on TikTok in the United States has been solidified by the Supreme Court’s recent decision to support the ban.
The decision, reached today (January 17), dictates that the app will no longer be accessible via Google or Apple’s app stores starting Sunday (January 19).
In the ruling, the justices declared, “We conclude that the challenged provisions do not violate petitioners’ First Amendment rights.”
“The judgment of the United States court of appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit is affirmed.”
Last April, the US Congress enacted a bipartisan bill that aimed to ban TikTok unless a new ownership structure was established.
The deadline was set for January 19, 2025, amid concerns from the US Justice Department regarding the app’s parent company, ByteDance, being a ‘national-security threat of immense depth and scale’.
ByteDance, which originates from China, faces scrutiny over fears that the Chinese government could force the company to share data from its approximately 170 million American users.
Since ByteDance has not sold TikTok, what lies ahead for Sunday (January 19)?
For US users who haven’t yet downloaded the app, it will be unavailable as it is removed from platforms like Google and Apple, in accordance with the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act.
Those who already have the app may find it becoming nonfunctional over time.
Cybersecurity professor Timothy Edgar from Brown University explained to CBS: “They will get a notice that says, ‘This service is not available in your country.’
“That’s most likely what will happen based on what we’ve seen in other countries that have banned certain platforms.
“This generation may be in for a very rude awakening if the law goes into effect and they find a major social media platform that they came to rely on as creators, or just users, is suddenly not available.”
Additionally, Qi Liao, a professor specializing in computer and network security at Central Michigan University, pointed out that TikTok could become ‘obsolete’ because users will eventually be unable to update the app.
This decision occurs as President-elect Donald Trump has appealed to the Supreme Court for a delay on the ban, seeking a ‘political resolution’.
Reports indicate that Trump has invited TikTok CEO Shou Chew to his second presidential inauguration, scheduled for Monday (January 20).