White House: TikTok should remain available to Americans

There is no doubt that, for more than 170 million Americans, TikTok offers a distinctive and expansive outlet for expression, means of engagement, and source of community. But Congress has determined that divestiture is necessary to address its well-supported national security concerns regarding TikTok's data collection practices and relationship with a foreign adversary,

the court said, reported CBS News

The challenged provisions further an important government interest unrelated to the suppression of free expression and do not burden substantially more speech than necessary to further that interest,

the court added

Okay, fine, I’ll buy it

MrBeast joins the bid

The Supreme Court decision was expected, and everyone must respect it. My decision on TikTok will be made in the not too distant future, but I must have time to review the situation. Stay tuned!"

But on Friday, Trump issued a non-committal statement on Truth Social, writing

Given the sheer fact of timing, this Administration recognizes that actions to implement the law simply must fall to the next Administration, which takes office on Monday."

She added

For the foregoing reasons, we conclude that the challenged provisions do not violate petitioners’ First Amendment rights. The judgment of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit is affirmed."

The court continued

TikTok should remain available to Americans, but simply under American ownership or other ownership that addresses the national security concerns identified by Congress in developing this law,

the White House said in a statement

When the president can refuse to enforce the direct mandate of the law and promise the subjects of the law that it will not be enforced on them, that opens a can of worms,

he said

The Supreme Court could still rescue President Trump's promise to keep TikTok alive,

Chander said

That would put Apple and Google ... in a real spot,

said Costello

I don't think TikTok is going to be banned,

then-North Carolina Congressman Jeff Jackson said after voting for the ban last March (ironically speaking in a TikTok video).

TikTok’s owners had plenty of time to find a buyer. And there were plenty of willing buyers as well,

Republican Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas said after blocking Democrat Senator Ed Markey’s attempt

We aren’t against TikTok. We Want TikTok to keep going,

Senator Chuck Schumer, the Senate Minority Leader, told reporters on Thursday

In no way should we have TikTok go dark Sunday,

Markey said, ... according to a report

Our interpretation of the law that Congress passed is that absent a credible plan from the company on how they will divest, the President does not have statutory authority to trigger the 90 day extension,

a senior White House official told Politico

TikTok should survive but under new ownership,

Schumer added

If the Supreme Court comes out with a ruling in favor of the law, President Trump has been very clear: Number one, TikTok is a great platform that many Americans use and has been great for his campaign and getting his message out. But number two, he’s going to protect their data,

Waltz said on Wednesday

There absolutely is this surveillance component to social media apps and to internet use. It’s not just the censorship,

Chu told Al Jazeera

Because of Congress’s failure to enact comprehensive consumer privacy legislation, corporations from around the world are free to harvest Americans’ data, store it forever, and then monetise it through ever-expanding uses and sales,

Greene told Al Jazeera

The ban or forced sale of one social media app will do virtually nothing to protect Americans’ data privacy from another country,

he added