TikTok warns of consequences for other companies around the world if the US Supreme Court bans it

The law, which was discussed in the Supreme Court on January 10, sets a January 19 deadline for Chinese parent company ByteDance to sell the popular social media platform or face a ban on national security grounds.

A lawyer for TikTok and its Chinese parent company ByteDance Noel Francisco  during arguments in the U.S. Supreme Court, the law banning the app could extend to other global companies. This reports Reuters.

The law, which was discussed in the Supreme Court on January 10, sets a January 19 deadline for ByteDance to sell the popular social media platform or face a ban on national security grounds.

The companies sought to at least delay the implementation of the law, which they say violates the First Amendment to the US Constitution, which protects free speech from government restrictions.

Attorney Noel Francisco, who represents the interests of TikTok and ByteDance, argued during the debate that the approval of this law by the Supreme Court could lead to the adoption of laws aimed at other companies on similar grounds. < /p>

«AMC Cinemas used to be owned by a Chinese company. Under that theory, Congress could order AMC to censor any movies Congress doesn't like or to promote any movies Congress wants», , Francisco said to judges.

The justices made it clear by their questions during the debate that they were inclined to support the law, although some expressed serious concerns about its implications for the First Amendment.

«TikTok  is a platform used by about 170 million people in ​United States, which is about half of the country's population. Congress passed the intent last year with overwhelming bipartisan support, as lawmakers pointed to the risk that the Chinese government would use TikTok  for spying on Americans and conducting covert operations with impact», – noted in the Reuters publication.