TikTok and its parent company, ByteDance is facing off against the US Justice Department on Monday in a crucial legal battle in Washington, DC.
The companies are fighting to prevent a possible nationwide ban of the video-sharing app, which is used by 170 million Americans.
A three-judge panel from the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia will hear arguments on whether TikTok should be forced to sell its US assets or face a ban by January 19, 2025. TikTok and ByteDance argue that such a move would violate the US Constitution and Americans’ free speech rights. They stated, “This is a radical departure from this country’s tradition of championing an open Internet.”
The main issue in this case is national security. US lawmakers and the Justice Department claim that TikTok’s ownership by the Chinese company ByteDance poses a serious risk, saying the Chinese government could access personal data or control information on the platform. ByteDance has pushed back, saying that selling TikTok’s US operations would not be possible and warning that a ban could cause a major disruption.
The timing of the case adds complexity, as it takes place during the final months of the 2024 presidential campaign. Both Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, who are running for president, use TikTok to reach younger voters. President Joe Biden may extend the January 19 deadline if ByteDance shows progress in selling TikTok’s US assets. However, Trump has said he would not support a full ban if he is re-elected, which has created a political dilemma.
Both TikTok and the US government have asked for a ruling by December 6, allowing the US Supreme Court to consider an appeal before the proposed ban takes effect. The White House said it wants to end TikTok’s Chinese ownership for the sake of national security. As TikTok’s legal team prepares to defend the company, the outcome of the case will have significant consequences for TikTok’s millions of US users and ByteDance’s global business.
