

Supreme Court Allows TikTok Divest-or-Ban Order to Proceed
Jan 17, 2025
Tommy Berry, a scholar at the Cato Institute, dives into the Supreme Court's decision allowing a federal order for TikTok's potential ban in the U.S. He unpacks the implications for free speech on social media and critiques the court's reasoning with respect to intermediate scrutiny. The discussion raises important questions about the selective targeting of TikTok over other platforms and the underlying motivations tied to national security. Berry highlights the precarious balance between data privacy and free expression in the digital age.
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TikTok Ban Upheld
- The Supreme Court upheld the TikTok ban, but their reasoning may allow broader speech restrictions.
- The court used intermediate scrutiny, not strict scrutiny, finding data privacy concerns sufficient.
Impact on TikTok
- TikTok may shut down its servers or block access, making the app unusable in the US.
- Users might bypass this with VPNs, but direct access will likely become impossible.
Court's Leniency
- The Supreme Court's leniency and focus on TikTok's reach raises concerns.
- The court overlooked similar data privacy issues with other Chinese apps like Shein and Temu.