Mon Jan 20 07:07:52 UTC 2025: ## TikTok Banned in US After Supreme Court Upholds Federal Law
**Washington, D.C. – January 20, 2025** – The popular short-form video app TikTok has been banned in the United States following a unanimous Supreme Court decision upholding a federal law mandating its sale to a US owner or shutdown. The ban, which went into effect Friday, concludes a years-long saga marked by concerns over national security and legal challenges.
Launched in 2017 following the merger of Musical.ly, TikTok rapidly ascended to global prominence, becoming a trendsetter while simultaneously facing scrutiny from US officials citing potential national security risks. In April 2024, President Biden signed legislation requiring parent company ByteDance to divest its US operations within a year.
ByteDance subsequently filed a lawsuit challenging the legislation, arguing the security concerns were exaggerated and the law violated the First Amendment. However, the Supreme Court ultimately rejected these arguments, leading to the immediate ban. The future of TikTok’s US operations remains uncertain.
First Piper 