ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, filed an emergency motion on Monday requesting the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia to temporarily block a law that mandates the company divest TikTok by January 19, 2025, or face a nationwide ban. The appeal seeks to delay the law’s enforcement while the U.S. Supreme Court reviews the case.
The motion, filed as an urgent request, underscores the potential damage the divestiture law could cause, warning that its immediate enforcement would significantly disrupt TikTok, which has more than 170 million monthly users in the U.S. TikTok is considered one of the country’s most influential platforms, and the companies argue that its shutdown would have far-reaching consequences not only for its users but also for businesses that rely on TikTok for marketing and sales.
ByteDance’s legal team emphasized the high probability of a Supreme Court review and possible reversal of the law, making a temporary pause essential to allow for additional deliberation. If the court does not act, TikTok faces the risk of being banned in the U.S. within just six weeks, devaluing the app and causing immense disruption to its global operations.
The law, which requires ByteDance to sell TikTok’s U.S. assets, was upheld last Friday by a three-judge panel of the appeals court. However, the companies assert that the delay will give the incoming administration time to reassess the issue and potentially avoid the disruption caused by the law.
ByteDance and TikTok’s legal counsel also pointed to President-elect Donald Trump’s recent statements vowing to prevent a TikTok ban, noting that the delay would allow the new administration to make its stance clear on the matter. This, they argue, could moot the need for a Supreme Court ruling, should the incoming administration choose a different course of action.
The Justice Department, however, argued against the request, urging the appeals court to expedite the process to allow for prompt Supreme Court consideration.
TikTok’s operations would also be severely impacted outside the U.S. due to the ruling, as service providers responsible for the maintenance, distribution, and updates of the platform would be unable to assist starting on January 19. This could result in widespread service interruptions for millions of international users.
The U.S. government’s law gives broad authority to restrict foreign-owned apps, particularly those that raise concerns about the collection of U.S. citizens’ data. In 2020, former President Trump also attempted to ban WeChat, a Tencent-owned messaging app, but was blocked by U.S. courts.
As the deadline approaches, all eyes are now on the U.S. courts, with TikTok and ByteDance hoping for a delay to allow for a more thorough legal review.
Read more:
Court Upholds Law For Tiktok Ban Amid Rising National Security Concerns
Legal Claim Behind Cwb’s Earnings Delay, Bank Assures Minimal Impact
New Visa Policy To Keep More International Researchers In The U.S.