President Trump has filed a request with the U.S. Supreme Court to delay the enforcement of a law that would ban TikTok nationally on January 19 unless its parent company sells the platform. The President-elect, in a brief filed on Friday, expressed his willingness to negotiate a deal that balances national security and First Amendment considerations.
ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, has 22 days left to sell the platform before facing a ban. If the deadline is not met, web-hosting services and mobile app stores will no longer be able to carry the app, effectively banning it nationwide.
The Supreme Court has agreed to review the case on January 10, with a decision expected on the fate of TikTok in just nine days. Trump’s legal representatives are urging the court to stay the deadline to allow for more time and a negotiated resolution.
There are concerns that the law in question may infringe on the President’s authority over foreign policy by imposing a divestment deadline just before the inauguration of a new administration.
Overall, Trump supports TikTok’s opposition to the law, citing concerns about free speech and the potential global precedent set by such actions. He argues that the court did not adequately consider the free speech interests of TikTok users and gave too much deference to national security officials calling for censorship.
Lawmakers and officials have raised concerns about TikTok’s ties to China and the potential national security threats it poses. However, no evidence has been presented to suggest that TikTok has shared user data with the Chinese government. Despite these concerns, comprehensive data privacy legislation has not been passed to protect user information from companies like TikTok.
In summary, Trump is advocating for a delay in the ban on TikTok to allow for negotiation and a more considered approach to the national security and free speech concerns raised by the controversial law.
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