The Supreme Court hears TikTok's case to toss out a ban just nine days before it will take effect. The Biden administration defends the measure on national security grounds.

Within days, TikTok could be banned from being distributed in the United States and, eventually, stop working as an app altogether if the U.S. Supreme Court does not intervene to block a bipartisan law that is set to take effect on Jan. 19.

The full scope of how the ban would impact TikTok’s user functions is still unclear, as a lawyer arguing on behalf of the app said it would go dark by Jan. 19.

The justices are expected to rule quickly in the case, which pits national security concerns about China against the First Amendment’s protection of free speech.

Congress, which passed the TikTok law with bipartisan support, says China’s influence over the platform poses a national security threat. The Department of Justice has raised concerns as well, including the potential collection of personal data from the app’s millions of American users and the potential “ covert manipulation ” of its content.

The law that could ban TikTok is coming before the Supreme Court. The justices largely hold the app’s fate in their hands as they hear the case Friday.

The Supreme Court is poised to uphold the Biden administration’s ban on TikTok, defying Donald Trump’s plea to put the plans on hold.

The view of trade as the antidote to war begs to be revived modernly as politicians from both sides of the aisle excuse their blatantly protectionist efforts to ban TikTok as having to do with national security. The excuse isn’t serious. Worse, it’s dangerous.

After the Supreme Court heard oral arguments over a law that could ban TikTok, it looks like one of its last possible lifelines is unlikely to save it from the impending ouster.

Most justices on the nine-member bench appeared sceptical that shutting down the Chinese social media platform would violate free speech rights.

The Supreme Court during oral arguments appeared ready to allow a law to ban TikTok unless it divests from its Chinese parent company.