Biden signs TikTok 'ban' bill into law, starting clock for ByteDance to divest

Re:Biden signs TikTok 'ban' bill into law, starting clock fo... by fauigerzigerk on Wednesday April 24, 2024 @01:04PM (#40146979)

I think it matters whether it really is a ban or just called a ban, because the whole First Amendment argument hinges on this question.

If TikTok was banned in the sense that it had to shut down then the First Amendment argument could work. But if it's just a forced sale then it has no bearing on the freedom of speech of TokTok users.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Biden signs TikTok 'ban' bill into law, starting clock fo... by RIMR on Wednesday April 24, 2024 @06:15PM (#40150495)

"Forced sale" is interesting, because it assumes that a Chinese company would allow itself to be forced to sell. If TikTok refuses, the government either has to admit that they have no power to force a sale or actually ban access to the service, or they have to start demanding that app stores remove the app, and DNS providers stop resolving the website, and that ISPs start blocking the IPs. This would become a complete shitshow pretty much instantly.

[ Parent | on HN ]