(Associated Press): On Friday, President-elect Donald Trump asked the U.S. Supreme Court to postpone the possible TikTok ban until his administration could come up with a "political solution" instead. TikTok and the Biden administration were submitting opposing papers at the time of the request. While the government argued that the act was required to address national security issues, TikTok petitioned the Court to stop a regulation that would result in the app being prohibited by January 19.

In his amicus brief, Trump made it apparent that he only wanted the Court to delay the divestment deadline of January 19, 2025, rather than offering an opinion on the case's merits. Trump's nominee for solicitor general, D. John Sauer, wrote the brief, arguing that the Court should delay the Act's deadline while it is being considered. Trump's role in the issue is merely another illustration of his interference in national matters before his inauguration.

Trump has a tendency to get involved in important matters prior to taking office, and this proposal is no exception. He has already initiated discussions with other nations on potential levies and has previously stepped in to demand that a bipartisan plan for federal financing be rejected. Additionally, Trump has met with corporate leaders and foreign leaders. A recent meeting at his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida included TikTok CEO Shou Chew.

Trump's position has changed, even though he had previously attempted to ban TikTok during his first term because to national security concerns. Trump's team started using TikTok to reach younger voters, particularly men, during his 2024 presidential campaign by producing viral, frequently macho videos. Trump is against a complete ban on TikTok, despite his statements that he still thinks the app poses threats to national security.

The case's filings precede oral arguments on January 10, when the Court will consider the statute mandating TikTok to cut its connections with its parent business, ByteDance, based in China, or risk being banned. The legislation had widespread bipartisan support in Congress before being signed into law by President Joe Biden in April. TikTok and ByteDance have filed a legal challenge against the regulation, claiming that it restricts speech in violation of the First Amendment.

TikTok filed an appeal with the Supreme Court after the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit unanimously upheld the Act earlier in December. According to his brief, Trump is against TikTok being banned just yet and plans to use political tools to settle the issue after he assumes office.

In their Supreme Court filing, TikTok and ByteDance argued that the lower court had made an error in its ruling. They contended that the court based its decision on unsubstantiated concerns that China could influence TikTok’s U.S. platform by pressuring its foreign affiliates. TikTok rejected the notion that China had exerted such control over the platform.

The legal defense put forth by the Biden administration emphasizes that TikTok's ties to China make it a national security danger. Government representatives claim that Chinese authorities may coerce ByteDance into providing data on TikTok users in the United States or control the app to distribute or censor content. Nonetheless, the government acknowledged that there is no proof that China has made any prior attempts at such measures.

TikTok’s filing responded to these claims by pointing out that the U.S. government’s concerns are based on hypothetical future risks, rather than any evidence of current wrongdoing. TikTok emphasized that the fears about Chinese control are speculative and not grounded in any actual interference.

In response, the Biden administration said that TikTok's corporate structure, which incorporates ByteDance's in-house technology that was created and managed in China, is risky by nature. The government contended that the possibility of possible risks to national security is increased by this integration.

The case's primary questions are whether the law requiring TikTok to sever ties with ByteDance violates the First Amendment's guarantee of free speech and if the government's claimed national security concerns are valid. According to TikTok, the US government has not provided any compelling evidence of a threat, and the law is an overreach.

As it moves toward a decision, the case raises broader questions about the relationship between national security, governmental regulation, and technological platforms. The outcome of this lawsuit could have a big impact on how much control the government has over social media companies, particularly those with global links.

It is uncertain when the matter will be settled because the Supreme Court is scheduled to hear arguments on January 10. The U.S.-China relationship in the realm of digital technology, TikTok, and the broader framework of American tech regulation might all be significantly impacted by a decision.