TikTok Fights US Ban in Supreme Court, Warns of Wider Censorship Consequences

A PcMag report says TikTok’s legal team has asked the US Apex Court to reconsider a ban on the app; they told the court that it could set a precedent for censorship and government control over online content.

During oral arguments, TikTok’s lawyers reiterated that the ban is unfair and it will also threaten the freedom of expression and access to information for millions of Americans.

Noel Francisco, a lawyer representing TikTok and ByteDance in the case, warned the justices that giving support to the law could allow the US government to censor content it dislikes.

Jeffrey Fisher, a lawyer representing TikTok content creators, questioned why TikTok is being singled out for harsh restrictions when other Chinese-owned firms, such as e-commerce site Temu, are not facing the same litigation. Fisher argued that the law is unfairly targeting TikTok and that the government’s concerns about data security are not unique to the app.

US Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar, however, argued that the ban is necessary to protect national security and prevent China from having access to sensitive user data. Prelogar emphasized that the US government has a responsibility to protect Americans’ data and that the ban is a necessary measure to prevent China from exploiting this data for its own purposes.

The Supreme Court’s decision

The Supreme Court’s decision will have significant implications for the future of online free speech and the global tech industry. If the court upholds the ban, it could set a precedent for the US government to censor online content and restrict access to certain apps and websites. On the other hand, if the court rules in favor of TikTok, the UA could limit the government’s ability to regulate online content and protect the rights of tech companies to operate freely in the US.