On Monday, September 16, TikTok and its parent company, ByteDance, will be in court against the US Justice Department in Washington, DC. They are trying to stop a potential nationwide ban on the popular video-sharing app that 170 million Americans use.
A three-judge panel from the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia will listen to arguments about whether TikTok should be forced to sell its US assets or face a nationwide ban by January 19.
TikTok and ByteDance argue that this law is unconstitutional and goes against Americans’ free speech rights. They claim it’s a “radical departure from this country’s tradition of championing an open Internet.”
The main issue in this legal fight is national security. US lawmakers and the Justice Department are concerned that TikTok’s Chinese ownership could allow the Chinese government to access personal data or influence information. ByteDance argues that selling TikTok’s US operations isn’t practical and warns that a ban would cause major disruptions.
The case is particularly tricky because it comes at a time when the 2024 presidential campaign is in its final stages. Both Donald Trump and Kamala Harris are active on TikTok, using it to connect with younger voters. President Joe Biden might extend the January 19 deadline if ByteDance makes progress in selling TikTok’s US assets. However, Trump has said he would not support a full ban if re-elected, creating a complicated political situation.
Both TikTok and the Justice Department have asked for a decision by December 6, which could give the US Supreme Court time to review the case before any ban takes effect.
The White House wants to end TikTok’s Chinese ownership to protect national security. As TikTok’s legal team gets ready to argue, the outcome will be crucial for the app’s millions of US users and ByteDance’s global business.
