A federal court has denied TikTok’s attempt to overturn a law stating the app’s sale or ban by early 2025. TikTok’s appeal was rejected after the court’s decision was a significant blow to the app, which argued that the law violated constitutional protection for its 170 million US users.
Lawyers representing TikTok had previously claimed the ban would significantly restrict free speech and harm millions of users. The US Court of Appeals District of Columbia upheld the law by rejecting the appeal. The ruling emphasized that the law targets foreign advisories and is part of broader efforts against China’s influence.
TikTok and its parent company, byteDance, have consistently denied allegations of ties with the Chinese government. The US government claims that TikTok poses a threat due to its data handling and alleged connections with the Chinese state.
Despite the ruling, TikTok and BiteDance may pursue further legal options, potentially appealing to the Supreme Court. President-elect Donald Trump’s recent election victory may offer TikTok a glimmer of hope, given his previous comments.
During his campaign, Trump suggested opposing the TikTok ban despite attempting a similar move in 2020. He argued that the ban would unfairly benefit platforms like Facebook, which is owned by Meta.
The January 2025 ban deadline looms, putting pressure on Tiktok to address the concerns raised by US lawmakers. ByteDance firmly stated that it will not sell the platform, leaving its future in the hands of legal and political processes.
As TikTok navigates this legal and political turmoil, its operations in the US will be significantly impacted. As TikTok’s appeal was rejected, it intensified debates over security and technology while raising questions about its future.
