In an intense legal dispute with the US authorities, TikTok and its parent firm ByteDance are trying to stop the app—which is used by 170 million people—from being banned. The US legislation at the center of the legal dispute requires ByteDance to sell off its US holdings by January 19 or risk being completely banned. Attorneys for TikTok contend that the rule is an unusual step against America’s legacy of promoting an open internet and that it violates free expression. Arguments were recently presented to a federal appeals court in Washington, with TikTok’s legal team arguing for an injunction to prevent the law’s execution.
The US government, through the Justice Department, asserts that TikTok’s Chinese ownership presents a serious risk to national security because China may be able to get user data from Americans or control the dissemination of information. Congress enacted new legislation earlier this year that emphasizes the dangers of having a well-known social media platform controlled by foreign entities. This law is centered around this worry. Although it is in favor of reducing Chinese influence, the White House has refrained from calling for a complete ban.
ByteDance argues that selling up TikTok is not technically or financially possible, which raises questions about the app’s survival in light of the potentially dire repercussions it may face in a politically sensitive atmosphere.
The case is being brought at a critical juncture in US politics, as Kamala Harris and Donald Trump are actively utilizing TikTok to reach younger people. The judges voiced their worries about the complexity of the situation, particularly concerning monitoring the vast codebase that underpins TikTok and makes it hard to evaluate threats instantly. A decision is anticipated on December 6th as a result of the ongoing legal fighting; the matter may ultimately make its way to the US Supreme Court.