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As the Supreme Court appears likely to uphold a law that could result in the ban or forced sale of TikTok in the United States, here’s what its users should know:
Why Is TikTok Facing a Ban?
The Supreme Court has signaled it may uphold the law unless TikTok divests itself from its China-based parent company, ByteDance. Justices have expressed skepticism toward TikTok’s claims that the law violates its First Amendment rights.
When Could the TikTok Ban Take Effect?
The ban is set to take effect on January 19 unless the Supreme Court intervenes in TikTok’s favor.
Could the Ban Be Delayed?
If TikTok demonstrates progress toward finding a new owner, President-Elect Donald Trump could impose a 90-day pause starting January 20. However, without substantial evidence of such progress, any delay may face legal challenges.
Can You Still Use TikTok After the Ban?
Yes, but with limitations.
- What the Law Does: U.S. app stores and internet service providers would be prohibited from hosting TikTok. This would prevent new downloads or updates, rendering the app obsolete over time.
- What It Doesn’t Do: Users wouldn’t be barred from using TikTok already installed on their devices. However, the app may eventually experience performance issues and compatibility problems with newer operating systems.
What Has TikTok Said About the Ban?
TikTok’s lawyer Noel Francisco stated the platform would essentially shut down if the ban is implemented. The company has argued that prohibiting U.S. service providers from hosting TikTok would prevent it from functioning, effectively ending its operations in the country.
Would Creators Lose Income From TikTok?
Yes. Content creators relying on TikTok’s monetization programs would lose income. For example, a lawyer representing creators in a lawsuit against the government noted that one client would need to find a new job if TikTok’s creator fund were unavailable. While TikTok’s original $2 billion creator fund was replaced by the Creativity Program, its future in the U.S. is uncertain.
Can a VPN Circumvent the Ban?
Possibly. While TikTok would be removed from app stores and browsers, users might still access it using a VPN, which masks their location.
Can You Save TikTok Videos Before the Ban?
Yes.
- Desktop: Right-click a public video and select “Download video.”
- Mobile: Tap the share button and choose “Save video.”
- Third-Party Tools: Chrome extensions like myfaveTT allow users to export liked and favorited videos as .mp4 files.
Is Lemon8 a Good Alternative to TikTok?
No. Lemon8, also developed by ByteDance, would fall under the same ban or divestment law as TikTok.
What Happens to Your TikTok Data?
If TikTok is banned, the fate of U.S. users’ data is uncertain. A Forbes investigation found that when India banned TikTok in 2020, data from Indian users was moved to China.
Key Background
The law targeting TikTok stems from bipartisan concerns over national security and data privacy, despite ByteDance denying connections to the Chinese government. The federal government has not provided full details on its concerns, but reports have cited incidents of TikTok spying on journalists, promoting Chinese propaganda, and mishandling user data.
- Legislation: President Joe Biden signed the anti-TikTok bill in April, sparking interest from potential U.S. buyers like Amazon, Oracle, Walmart, and Microsoft.
- Legal Arguments: TikTok has countered that the law infringes on First Amendment rights and maintains users could continue publishing content under a U.S.-owned version of the platform.
President-Elect Donald Trump, who previously supported a ban, now opposes it but has limited options if the Supreme Court upholds the law.
Stay tuned for updates as the legal battle continues to unfold.