A US federal court ruling has set the stage for a potential TikTok ban after the app lost its appeal on Friday. TikTok, owned by the Chinese company ByteDance, must sell its US operations by January 19 or face a ban across the country.
The US appeals court upheld a law requiring ByteDance to divest TikTok’s US assets by early next year or face a ban. This decision could be appealed to the Supreme Court or a full panel of appeals court judges.
Judges Sri Srinivasan, Neomi Rao, and Douglas Ginsburg considered the legal challenges TikTok and its users raised against the law, which gives ByteDance until January 19 to divest or sell TikTok’s US operations. The court stated that the law was a response to a national security threat posed by China, crafted with extensive bipartisan support in Congress.
This ruling is a significant victory for the Justice Department and opponents of the app, escalating the likelihood of a TikTok ban in the coming weeks, potentially affecting 170 million American users.
While there was no immediate response from TikTok or the Justice Department, the law signed by President Joe Biden in April allows for a one-time extension of up to 90 days, provided ByteDance shows progress in selling TikTok.
The court emphasized the national security risks, citing China’s potential influence over TikTok’s data. TikTok and ByteDance argue that the law violates free speech and US internet freedoms, calling the national security concerns “speculative.”
