Privacy groups, experts, parents praise SCOTUS ban on TikTok, while others criticize decision as ‘anti-democratic’
Legal experts, privacy groups and parents alike applauded The verdict of the Supreme Court on Friday backing a federal law banning TikTok unless it splits from its Chinese parent company ByteDance, while others saw it as “anti-democratic”.
The ban is due to take effect on Sunday.
“There is no question that for more than 170 million Americans, TikTok offers a distinctive and expansive outlet for expression, a means of engagement, and a source of community,” the court wrote in an unsigned ruling. “But Congress has determined that forfeiture is necessary to address its well-supported national security concerns about TikTok’s data collection practices and relationship with a foreign adversary.”
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Former Vice President Mike Pence addressed Xu and called the decision “a victory for the privacy and security of the American people.”
“This legislation is the result of bipartisan cooperation, and I commend its authors and sponsors in Congress for passing this vital legislation for our national security,” he continued. The CCP has been made aware that the American people’s data is no longer for the taking. The new Trump administration must be prepared to support this bill to take down TikTok and put America’s privacy and security first.”
Legal experts, privacy groups and parents alike applauded Friday’s Supreme Court decision upholding a federal law banning TikTok as a victory, while others saw it as “anti-democratic.” (iStock)
Sen Tom CottonR-Ark., also said the Supreme Court “correctly rejected TikTok’s lies and propaganda masquerading as legal arguments” in a post on X.
“ByteDance and its Chinese Communist overlords had nine months to sell TikTok before Sunday’s deadline,” the senator wrote. “The very fact that Communist China refuses to allow its sale reveals exactly what TikTok is: a Communist spy app. The Supreme Court correctly rejected TikTok’s lies and propaganda disguised as legal arguments.”
Senator Ted CruzR-Tex., said the decision “is not surprising, and the answer is that the Chinese government must relinquish control over TikTok.”
Carrie Severino, president of the Judicial Crisis Network, echoed Cotton’s sentiments, also saying in a statement that the high court “rightly recognizes the danger that the Chinese Communist Party can access and misuse the data of hundreds of millions of Americans.”
READ SUPREME COURT JUDGMENT ON TIKTOK LAW – APPLICATION USERS, CLICK HERE
President Biden in particular, he maintained his position that he would implement the law to ban the social media app and would instead direct implementation to President-elect Donald Trump and his incoming administration.
Severino said she hopes “the incoming administration of President Trump will vigorously enforce this important national security law.”
American Parents Coalition Executive Director Alleigh Marré also posted on X reacting to the holding. “This is a huge win for parents! Children will be freed from TikTok’s poison, its powerful, dangerous algorithm and compromising influences.”
The Supreme Court issued a verdict supporting the threatened ban, which is due to take effect on Sunday. (AP photo)
“I am incredibly proud to see the highest court in the land agree that our elected officials have the authority to protect our national security from our most powerful foreign adversaries,” Michael Lucci, founder and CEO of State Rumors, said in a statement. “This decision is a testament to the tireless work so many patriotic groups, including State Armour, have done over the past year to educate the public and lawmakers about the dangers posed by TikTok.”
Lucci went on to call for TikTok to be sold to a US company “or immediately cease all operations within the United States, as ordered by the Supreme Court.”
Others reacted with disappointment to the Supreme Court’s decision, including Electronic Frontier Foundation civil liberties director David Greene who called the holding “anti-democratic.”
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“Closing down communication platforms or forcing them to reorganize based on concerns about foreign propaganda and anti-national manipulation is an extremely anti-democratic tactic, which USA is earlier condemned globally,” he said in a released statement.
Likewise, UC Berkeley Law School Dean Erwin Chemerinsky said in a statement to Fox News Digital that he believes the court “got it wrong” in its decision.
“Although unanimous, I think the Court erred,” Chemerinsky said. “She uncritically accepted the government’s argument that China’s ability to collect information would harm national security; she never explained what information was likely to be collected to what effect.
In particular, President Joe Biden has maintained his position that he will implement the law to ban the social media app and instead direct implementation to President-elect Donald Trump and his incoming administration. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
“The impact on speech is staggering by banning a platform used by 173 million people in this country,” he continued.
Just last year, Congress is needed that TikTok’s China-based parent company ByteDance divest itself of the company by January 19. The law was subsequently signed by Biden.
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When the bill passed, Congress specifically highlighted concerns about Chinese ownership of the app, which members said meant the app had weaponization potential or used to collect vast amounts of user data, including from the approximately 170 million Americans who use TikTok.
Fox News Digital’s Breanne Deppisch contributed to this report.
