Supreme Court slams First Amendment arguments by TikTok as app gives last ditch effort to stop US ban
The IndependentSign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Supreme Court justices slammed First Amendment arguments made by TikTok as the popular social media app tries to avoid a U.S. ban in the coming days. Justices seemed unconvinced at TikTok’s First Amendement arguments as it faces a potential U.S. ban Justice Amy Coney Barrett questioned lawyers and noted they kept referring to the so-called “shutting down” of the app. “If the concern is with foreign government speech or propaganda, as we argue in our brief, that kind of concern can’t justify a flat-out ban on Americans access to speech from abroad.” TikTok’s lawyers made that point during arguments, saying the platform could add a “disclosure” on its app – essentially informing people every time they go on it that their data could be used by the Chinese. “It’s all a little bit of a black box.” open image in gallery TikTok educational influencer, Tiffany Cianci livestreams outside the U.S. Supreme Court Building as the court hears oral arguments Regarding the government’s concerns about protecting Americans’ sensitive data, Krishnan says it is a “compelling interest” but there are still other ways to achieve that such as “passing a comprehensive data privacy law.” Creators are seemingly preparing for a world in which TikTok disappears by diversifying their content mediums.