TikTok SCOTUS LIVE BLOG: Court hears arguments on possible ban

The US Supreme Court is expected to begin Hearing oral arguments 10 a.m. ET today in a closely monitored situation that may lead to TikTok banned in the United States One day before President-elect Donald Trump is sworn in on January 20. WIRED journalists McKenna Kelly, Zi Yang, and Louise Matsakis are watching live and bringing you the most important updates from the courtroom and our analysis.

Congress last year He issued a law That would force ByteDance, TikTok’s Chinese parent company, to sell the app or face a ban in the United States. US Department of Justice lawyers plan to prove that this measure is necessary to mitigate it National security risks offered by the application. TikTok will argue the law It stifles freedom of expression For about 170 million Americans.

Here are some of the most pressing questions we’re pondering: How will the justices interpret Trump’s unusual request last month to delay the case’s timeline until he comes to power? Will the court be persuaded by the Justice Department’s arguments about how China could manipulate them? TikTok algorithm To shape public opinion? How will the justices handle constitutional issues related to a social media platform that extends far beyond America’s borders?

Also, will the questions the judges ask provide any clues about how they ultimately rule the case? We’re hearing in particular from Justice Amy Coney Barrett, who took the view on Previous case Foreign social media platforms are not entitled to the same First Amendment protections as American companies. If she raises the same point again, it could indicate that TikTok will lose its relatively moderate vote in cases involving free speech issues.