A federal appeals court has upheld legislation requiring TikTok's Chinese parent company ByteDance to sell the popular social media platform to an American company by January 19, 2025, or face a nationwide ban in the United States.
The unanimous ruling by a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit acknowledged the widespread impact on millions of TikTok users but emphasized that the government's actions aimed to protect American freedoms from foreign interference.
ByteDance plans to appeal the decision to the Supreme Court ruling on, with TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew informing staff they will seek an injunction to prevent the law from taking effect. The company maintains that the ban would silence over 170 million American users and violates First Amendment rights.
The law, signed by President Joe Biden in April, stems from longstanding concerns about potential data manipulation by the Chinese Communist Party. TikTok has consistently denied sharing user data with Chinese authorities.
U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland praised the ruling as a step toward preventing the Chinese government from collecting sensitive information about Americans and manipulating content delivery.
The American Civil Liberties Union criticized the decision, arguing it grants excessive power to the government to restrict online speech. The Chinese Foreign Ministry has characterized the legislation as violating fair competition principles and international trade rules.
The deadline could receive a 90-day extension if progress occurs toward a sale. While President-elect Donald Trump previously attempted to ban TikTok in 2020, his current stance opposes restrictions on the app, though his specific plans remain unclear.
Only one link was contextually appropriate to insert in this case. The second link about EU prosecutors and encrypted messaging was not directly related to the TikTok divestment story.