TikTok faces a legal battle to block a new law. The law requires ByteDance, its parent company, to sell the app by January 19. On Friday, the US Court of Appeals rejected TikTok’s request for more time. The company will now seek help from the Supreme Court.
TikTok and ByteDance had warned the law could shut down the app. They argued TikTok serves over 170 million US users and supports free speech. The appeals court denied the motion, stating no precedent exists for stopping a law while awaiting Supreme Court review.
TikTok plans to take the case to the Supreme Court. A spokesperson said the court has a history of protecting free speech. The law will ban TikTok unless ByteDance sells it by the deadline. It also allows the US government to ban other foreign apps that could threaten data security.
The US Justice Department claims TikTok’s ties to China pose a security threat. TikTok denies this, stating its data and decisions are managed in the US.
TikTok’s fate depends on two decisions. President Joe Biden must decide whether to extend the January 19 deadline.
