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The Justice Department on Wednesday asked a U.S. appeals court to reject TikTok’s attempt to temporarily block a law that could result in the banning of its more than 170 million users from the platform.
The law would require TikTok’s Chinese-owned parent company, ByteDance, to divest the video app by Jan. 19 or be banned in the US.
TikTok and ByteDance called the law unconstitutional in a emergency movement on Monday and argued that a small delay would not bring serious national security problems or else the United States would have forced the divestment of TikTok immediately instead of giving ByteDance time.
TIKTOK’S CHINA-BASED PARENT NEEDS TO SELL THE PLATFORM OR BE BANNED IN THE US
The Justice Department asked an appeals court late Wednesday to reject a temporary block of a law that could result in the popular app TikTok being banned in the United States. (Capitol: MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images | TikTok: Photo illustration by Rafael Henrique/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images/Getty Images)
The Justice Department says the ban “would not directly prohibit continued use of TikTok” for those currently using the platform, but eventually the popular short video app would be “unworkable.”
President Biden previously signed a bill in April requiring the sale of the platform to a company that is not owned or operated by Chinese entities.
He, along with other lawmakers, expressed concern that the Chinese government could use the platform for surveillance or to spread propaganda. ByteDance has indicated that it has no intention of selling.
TikTok has indicated that it will appeal the decision.
President Biden previously signed a bill requiring the platform to be sold to a company that is not owned or operated by Chinese entities. (Photo Illustration by Jonathan Raa/NurPhoto via Getty Images/Getty Images)
TIKTOK SAYS US BAN IS INEVITABLE UNLESS LAW REQUIRING DIVESTMENT IS BLOCKED
“The Supreme Court has an established record of protecting Americans’ right to free speech, and we hope it will do just that on this important constitutional issue,” said company spokesman Michael Hughes. “Unfortunately, the TikTok ban was conceived and pushed based on inaccurate, flawed, and hypothetical information, resulting in complete censorship of the American people. The TikTok ban, unless stopped, will silence the voices of over 170 million of Americans here in the US and around the world on January 19, 2025.”
President-elect Donald Trump has previously said he would not allow a ban on TikTok in the United States. (Getty Images)
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Biden has the ability to extend that deadline by 90 days if the company attempts to sell. However, such a move would leave the decision in the hands of President-elect Donald Trump, who will take office on January 20.
Trump declared before the November election that he would not allow a ban on TikTok.
Reuters contributed to this report.
