TikTok, the popular social media app, is currently facing a legal battle in federal court in Washington. The app is fighting a law signed by President Joe Biden in April that would ban it nationwide or force its sale to a US owner. This law is set to go into effect in January.
The main concern from US politicians is that China, through TikTok's owner ByteDance, could potentially access and share US user data or use the app for an influence campaign. TikTok has denied these claims and stated that there is no evidence to support them.
In May, TikTok filed a lawsuit to stop the ban, arguing that it violated users' First Amendment rights. A decision on the case could come as early as November, with the Supreme Court likely to decide whether to hear the case before the January ban date.
A recent survey by the Pew Research Center found that American attitudes towards banning TikTok have cooled across party lines. In March 2023, half of US adults supported a ban, but by July and August of 2024, only 32% of respondents were in favor of the law.
As the court case unfolds, it remains to be seen how the judges will rule and what impact it will have on TikTok's future in the US. The app has not provided any comments on the ongoing legal proceedings.