LISTEN LIVE: Supreme Court hears arguments on whether TikTok can be banned in free speech case
PBS NewsHourDEC 28 2024
Supreme Court to Decide on TikTok's US Fate
Above: A smartphone screen on Dec. 31, 2024 in Bath, England. Image copyright: Anna Barclay/Contributor/Getty Images News via Getty Images
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
This ban is critical to protecting national security, as TikTok's Chinese ownership poses grave risks through potential data collection and manipulation of American users. The government has legitimate concerns about ByteDance's ability to access user data and spread disinformation under Chinese law.
Establishment-critical narrative
This legislation unfairly targets TikTok without concrete evidence of wrongdoing, and violates the fundamental free speech rights of millions of Americans. The platform operates independently from ByteDance, and the US government has failed to demonstrate concrete evidence of national security threats that justify such extreme measures.