Ann Arbor Times

University of Michigan experts are prepared to discuss the U.S. Supreme Court's recent decision to uphold a federal law banning TikTok on national security grounds. This ruling will take effect on Sunday unless ByteDance, the app's China-based parent company, sells it.

Oliver Haimson, an assistant professor at the School of Information and the Digital Studies Institute at the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts, commented on the implications of this decision. "Today’s SCOTUS ruling highlights a decision to prioritize national security over free speech when these two fundamental U.S. values came into conflict. However, this ruling will have substantial repercussions," he said. Haimson emphasized that shutting down TikTok would impact Americans who use it for entertainment, information seeking, community-building, and self-expression. He also noted that marginalized groups like LGBTQ+ individuals might be particularly affected due to their reliance on online platforms for community and resources.

Haimson further explained that small businesses and content creators could face economic challenges as they depend on TikTok for income. "This ruling underscores the far-reaching implications of balancing security concerns with digital rights and economic realities."

Justin Huang, an assistant professor of marketing at the Ross School of Business, focused on political aspects related to this decision. "With the Supreme Court ruling today to uphold the ban, all eyes turn to incoming President Trump," he said. Huang pointed out that while Trump needs to enforce this law upon taking office, he has shown opposition to it and is interested in negotiating a sale of TikTok.

Huang added that Trump's approach during his election campaign involved embracing nontraditional media outlets such as podcasts and influencers which gained him significant support from young American voters. A potential intervention regarding TikTok could strengthen his connection with this demographic.

Contact details for both experts were provided: Oliver Haimson can be reached at [email protected], while Justin Huang is available at [email protected].