A TikTok ban in the U.S. is moving rapidly towards becoming a reality, as TikTok and its parent company ByteDance face a looming deadline to divest the platform by January 19th.
On Friday, an appeals court rejected their request for additional time to present their case to the Supreme Court, reinforcing the challenge facing the popular short-video app. TikTok argued that the law, which would force ByteDance to sell the app, threatens its existence in the U.S., where it boasts more than 170 million users. The court’s order noted there is no precedent for blocking an Act of Congress while it’s under review by the Supreme Court, leaving TikTok’s future uncertain without intervention from the higher court. A TikTok spokesperson has signaled that the company will pursue its case in the Supreme Court, citing a long-standing precedent of protecting Americans’ free speech rights.
If the Supreme Court does not intervene, TikTok’s fate will depend on President Joe Biden’s decision whether to grant a 90-day extension for ByteDance to sell the platform. Additionally, the stance of incoming President Donald Trump could play a crucial role. Trump, who opposed banning TikTok during his first term, has yet to reveal his position on the matter. Moreover, lawmakers are urging major technology companies to prepare for the possibility of removing TikTok from their U.S. app stores by January 19th.
