The Supreme Court Justices have signaled strong support for upholding the TikTok ban signed by President Biden, which requires Chinese-owned ByteDance to divest from the app by January 19 or face a US ban.

During oral arguments, the justices heavily scrutinized TikTok's First Amendment defense. Chief Justice John Roberts emphasized that Congress's concern isn't about TikTok's content but rather Chinese control of the platform, stating "They're not saying TikTok has to stop. They're saying the Chinese have to stop controlling TikTok."

The key debate centers on whether national security concerns outweigh free speech rights. Justice Kavanaugh highlighted data collection as "a huge concern for the future of the country," noting risks of espionage and blackmail targeting future government officials.

U.S. Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar emphasized the bipartisan nature of the legislation, explaining that Congress united around addressing the "grave threat" of Chinese control over the platform, rather than concerns about content.

The ban, if upheld, would take effect July 19, requiring app stores to remove TikTok and ISPs to block access to the web app. While TikTok argues this would violate the free speech rights of 170 million users, the Court appears more convinced by national security arguments.

Notably, former President Trump, who initially pushed for a TikTok ban in 2020, has recently shifted his stance, telling his 15 million TikTok followers, "vote for me and I'll save TikTok."

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