A federal appeals court has unanimously upheld legislation that could lead to TikTok's ban in the United States by mid-January, dealing a major blow to the popular video-sharing platform.
The three-judge panel at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit rejected TikTok's challenge to overturn the law enacted in April. This legislation requires ByteDance, TikTok's Chinese parent company, to sell the app to a non-Chinese owner by January 19 or face a complete ban in the US.
The ruling impacts over 170 million American users who have embraced TikTok as a key platform for entertainment and self-expression. Content creators who rely on the platform for their income now face uncertainty about their future.
TikTok had argued that the law unfairly targeted their company and would violate First Amendment rights of American users. However, the judges dismissed these claims, stating the legislation was specifically designed to address control by foreign adversaries and protect American data.
The company maintains that selling the platform is not feasible, partly due to expected opposition from the Chinese government. This standoff leaves TikTok's fate hanging in the balance as the January deadline approaches.
The ruling presents a complex challenge for President-elect Donald Trump, who has expressed support for the app but faces limited options under the new law, which takes effect just before his inauguration.
This development marks a critical point in the ongoing debate over national security concerns surrounding TikTok's Chinese ownership, which has been a contentious issue since 2020.
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