US Supreme Court To Hear Oral Arguments On TikTok Ban – What Is TikTok Arguing?

The fate of TikTok sits in the hands of the U.S. Supreme Court, which will hear oral arguments on Friday against legislation that bans the platform in the country in less than two weeks.

Last spring, President Joe Biden signed legislation into law that requires ByteDance, TikTok’s Chinese parent company, to sell the platform by Sunday, Jan. 19. If ByteDance fails to do so, TikTok will be banned in the United States, making it illegal for app stores and internet hosting services to distribute the platform.

The legislation stemmed from national security concerns that TikTok may be sharing U.S. user data with the Chinese government.

In December, SCOTUS agreed to hear oral arguments against the legislation from TikTok, which has continuously denied the national security threat claims. Friday’s session comes just nine days before the ban could be implemented.

Though he has been vocal in the past against TikTok, President-elect Donald Trump has asked SCOTUS to pause the legislation, as he would like to have a chance to save the platform. In the past month, billionaire Frank McCourt and “Shark Tank” host Kevin O’Leary have expressed interest in purchasing the U.S. assets of the platform as part of a consortium called “People’s Bid For TikTok.”

Here’s what to know about when SCOTUS will hear TikTok’s arguments, including how folks can tune in at home.

What Is TikTok Arguing?

TikTok is arguing that the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications App, signed into law last spring, is a violation of the First Amendment.

When Will Scotus Hear Tiktok’s Arguments?

SCOTUS will convene for a public session to hear oral arguments from TikTok at 10 a.m. EST on Friday.

Can Anyone Attend The SCOTUS Hearing?

Oral arguments heard by SCOTUS are open to the public, but seating is limited and offered on a first-come, first-serve basis. A line forms outside the court building beforehand.

Seating for the TikTok oral arguments will begin at 9:30 a.m., according to the SCOTUS website. When the court is in session, the Supreme Court building is closed.

Can You Listen To The SCOTUS Arguments Live?

Yes, an audio feed will be live-streamed during the public session. The livestream will be available on the SCOTUS website at supremecourt.gov/default.aspx. An audio recording and transcript will also be posted on the SCOTUS website after the session concludes.