US Appeals Court Upholds Law Forcing Ban Or Sale Of TikTok

A United States federal appeals court has upheld a law requiring ByteDance to divest itself of TikTok in the US by early next year or face a ban. The court decision, a crucial development in the legal battle between the US government and TikTok, is a devastating blow to Chinese-based ByteDance. The law gives TikTok until January 19 to find a new owner or face a ban, with a possible 90-day extension.

“TikTok’s millions of users will need to find alternative media of communication,” said the judge Douglas Ginsburg, as quoted by The Guardian. Attorney General Merrick Garland called the development "an important step in blocking the Chinese government from weaponizing TikTok.” Meanwhile, a TikTok spokesperson reportedly said in a statement that the firm would appeal the decision to the highest court in the nation.

The United States government says that TikTok is a national security threat because China could use the app to access personal data from millions of Americans. US lawmakers also say they fear China could manipulate what millions of people see on the app and spread propaganda.