TikTok asks court to pause law that could shut down app in U.S. next month
TikTok and its parent company ByteDance have filed an emergency request asking a U.S. appeals court to temporarily halt a law that could force the popular social media app to shut down in the United States by January 19, 2025.
The request comes after the court upheld legislation requiring ByteDance to sell TikTok or face a ban, citing national security concerns over the app's Chinese ownership. TikTok plans to appeal the decision to the Supreme Court.
In their filing, TikTok's lawyers emphasized that an immediate ban would severely impact the platform's 170 million monthly U.S. users and content creators. The company warned it would face "devastating effects" on operations, including loss of revenue, users, and talent.
The timing of the request aligns with the upcoming presidential transition. TikTok noted that President-elect Donald Trump, who takes office on January 20, has expressed opposition to the ban. The company argues that pausing the law would allow the new administration to evaluate the case and potentially take a different approach.
The Department of Justice opposed TikTok's request, stating the court has already "definitively rejected" the company's constitutional claims. The DOJ emphasized the law was carefully designed to address national security threats related to foreign control.
Under the current legislation, which President Biden approved in April as part of a broader foreign aid package, TikTok must be sold by ByteDance within nine months or face removal from U.S. app stores.
If the appeals court denies the emergency request, TikTok indicated it would immediately seek Supreme Court intervention to block the law while the appeal proceeds. However, the company prefers giving the Supreme Court time for a more thorough review process rather than rushing an emergency ruling.
The outcome of this legal battle could set a precedent for how the U.S. handles foreign-owned apps that raise data security concerns, while potentially affecting millions of American users who rely on the platform for entertainment and business.