Lawyers representing TikTok and its creators argued that banning the app would violate the free speech rights of its 170 million U.S. users.
A representative for TikTok creators emphasized, “They should have the right to work with the publishers of their choice.”
Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar presented the Department of Justice’s case, highlighting national security concerns over data collection.
She referenced a 2022 incident where ByteDance employees improperly accessed data from U.S.-based journalists.
Prelogar also mentioned that foreign governments have historically used social media for influence operations, further underscoring the risks.
Justice Kavanaugh noted the complexity of the case, stating that while data collection concerns seem strong, content manipulation fears present “much more challenging questions.”
Security Concerns and Global Influence
TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, admitted in December 2022 that employees accessed sensitive data to investigate leaks, raising alarms in Washington. ByteDance has since terminated the employees involved, but the incident underscores the potential security risks tied to the platform.
