Today, Explained TikTok on the dock(et)
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Jan 9, 2025 
Ian Millhiser, a senior correspondent at Vox covering the Supreme Court, and Heather Somerville, a national security and technology reporter for The Wall Street Journal, dive deep into the TikTok ban case. They discuss how this ban raises critical questions about free speech and ownership rights. The conversation spans U.S.-China tensions, national security fears over data privacy, and the competitive threats posed by Chinese tech firms. Millhiser and Somerville offer insight into the broader implications for American businesses and the future of digital platforms.
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TikTok's First Amendment Challenge
- The US government wants ByteDance to sell TikTok to a non-Chinese-government-controlled entity due to national security concerns.
- This raises First Amendment challenges from both TikTok and its users regarding ownership restrictions and platform usage.
Conflicting Principles: Free Press vs. National Security
- The government generally can't dictate media ownership, or a free press could be compromised.
- However, a long-standing rule restricts foreign ownership of key communication infrastructure like radio due to national security.
Trump's Flip-Flop on TikTok Ban
- TikTok hired Noel Francisco, Trump's former solicitor general, for their Supreme Court case.
- Trump, initially pro-ban, now expresses concerns about impacting young TikTok users.