Tiktok loses suit challenging US ban law
The company sought to convince a federal appeals court that the legislation was unconstitutional. During a September hearing, TikTok's legal team argued that the ban would have a "staggering" impact on its users' freedom of speech.
TikTok's effort to challenge a law that could lead to its ban or forced sale in the US by early 2025 has been unsuccessful.
The company sought to convince a federal appeals court that the legislation was unconstitutional. During a September hearing, TikTok's legal team argued that the ban would have a "staggering" impact on its users' freedom of speech.
However, the court upheld the law, describing it as the result of "extensive, bipartisan action by Congress and successive presidents." The ruling stated the legislation was "carefully crafted" to address foreign control concerns, specifically as part of a larger strategy to counter "a well-substantiated national security threat posed by the People’s Republic of China (PRC)."
The US government has called for TikTok to be banned or sold, citing its owner ByteDance's alleged ties to the Chinese government—a claim that TikTok and ByteDance have consistently denied. Concerns have been raised about potential vulnerabilities in user data that could be exploited by Chinese authorities.
TikTok and ByteDance have previously affirmed their refusal to sell the platform and have not yet responded to the latest ruling.
The decision by the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, which rejected TikTok's petition to review the law, means the platform is currently slated to become inaccessible to US users from January 19, 2025.
Nevertheless, President-elect Donald Trump, who had unsuccessfully attempted to ban TikTok during his first term in 2020, stated before the November elections that he would not permit such a ban. This leaves TikTok's future in the US uncertain despite the ruling.
