TikTok's future in America: Looming ban sparks debate
TikTok might disappear from the USA if its Chinese owner does not sell the app. The government speaks of security threats, while many internet users disagree with the decision. Will Americans say goodbye to the app?
TikTok, one of the most downloaded apps in the world, may soon disappear from the American market. The United States Supreme Court is handling an appeal regarding the law requiring the app's Chinese owner, the ByteDance company, to sell TikTok. President Biden's administration is concerned about national security. The issue raises a lot of controversy among internet users due to potential violations of free speech.
Will TikTok disappear from the USA?
In April 2024, President Joe Biden signed a law requiring ByteDance to sell TikTok by January 19, 2025. The US government fears that Chinese authorities could force access to user data or influence the content published on the app. The app's management argues that there is no evidence of such actions, and measures like storing data on servers in the US are aimed at ensuring safety.
Both TikTok and many users claim that the law violates rights guaranteed by the Constitution, including free speech. The app's lawyers emphasize that shutting down the platform will impact millions of people who use it as a tool for work, entertainment, or communication. Moreover, for many creators, the app has become a primary source of income, and its disappearance would have significant social and economic consequences.
Many internet users criticize the entire situation. Online, they write: "Doesn't the government have more important concerns?", "I still don't understand why they are doing this", "'Land of the free'—they said", "TikTok is literally my go-to photo app. I can't live without it", and "the court is worried about the wrong things, banning guns isn't that hard", "ban TikTok but not guns, wow".
Biden and Trump in defense of the nation
Biden's administration defends the law, pointing out that the Chinese government's potential control of TikTok threatens the safety of the United States. Officials emphasize that even without evidence of abuses, the risk is serious enough to require decisive actions. The US authorities are prepared to implement a ban on the app if ByteDance does not comply with the requirements.
Donald Trump, who will become the US president in January 2025, calls upon the Supreme Court to delay the law's implementation. He claims that his administration can find a compromise solution to the issue. Additionally, he believes that his negotiation experience and electoral mandate will allow resolving this matter without removing TikTok from the American market.
