TikTok has escalated its legal battle to the U.S. Supreme Court, seeking to block a law requiring its China-based parent company, ByteDance, to divest the short-video app by January 19, 2025, or face a ban in the United States.
The emergency request aims to halt enforcement while TikTok appeals a lower court ruling that upheld the law.
With approximately 170 million U.S. users, TikTok argues that the law violates First Amendment protections and warns of catastrophic losses if the app is shuttered even temporarily.
ByteDance claims the law singles out TikTok unfairly, branding it as a national security threat due to its data access and potential content manipulation capabilities.
The Justice Department insists TikTok’s ties to China pose significant risks, while TikTok maintains there is no evidence to substantiate these concerns. The incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump may reevaluate the law, as Trump recently softened his stance on TikTok.
The Supreme Court decision on TikTok’s request is anticipated by January 6, 2025, potentially shaping the future of foreign-owned apps in the U.S.
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