TikTok is in a desperate race against time. The popular video-sharing app, owned by Chinese company ByteDance, is battling a court order that could force it to sell its US operations or face a nationwide ban by January 19th.
On Monday, ByteDance pleaded with a US appeals court to temporarily block the ruling while it seeks a review from the Supreme Court. The company argues that it has a strong case and that a pause is necessary to allow for further legal arguments.
READ: TikTok Video Helps St. Petersburg Police Capture Fugitive Murder Suspect After 3-Year Manhunt
However, the US Justice Department is urging the court to swiftly reject TikTok’s request, aiming to give the Supreme Court ample time to consider the matter. TikTok has requested a decision from the appeals court by December 16th.
This legal scramble follows a federal court decision last Friday that labeled TikTok a national security threat due to potential influence from the Chinese government. The court dismissed First Amendment concerns and ordered ByteDance to either divest its US operations or face a ban.
TikTok, with over 170 million American users, warns that a ban would have severe consequences. The company claims that hundreds of US service providers crucial for the app’s functionality would be unable to continue their support past the January 19th deadline.
READ: Emergency Petition Filed To Halt TikTok Ban Pending Supreme Court Decision
This isn’t the first time TikTok has faced scrutiny. The app has been accused of surveilling Americans’ political preferences, illegally collecting children’s data, and promoting content favorable to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Although TikTok denies any CCP connections, a former ByteDance employee alleges that CCP members within the company have access to American user data.
The fate of TikTok in the US now hangs in the balance, with multiple high-stakes decisions on the horizon. The initial deadline of January 19th could be extended by 90 days by President Biden, potentially passing the final decision to the incoming president, who has previously expressed opposition to a ban.
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