Supreme Court Declines to Stop TikTok Ban, Which Begins This Weekend [Video]

The Supreme Court has weighed in on the pending TikTok ban, just two days before the Jan. 19 deadline when it is set to go into effect.

On Friday, Jan. 17, the court ruled that the law forcing TikTok to cease operations in the United States if it does not divest from Chinese ownership is constitutional, affirming an appeals court’s previous ruling that the sell-or-ban mandate does not violate the First Amendment.

“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,” Friday’s ruling stated. “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 decision was released just one day after a White House official said that given the timing of when the ban is set to go into effect — just one day before President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration — “it …