By Milcah Tanimu
The US Court of Appeals has rejected TikTok’s emergency motion to delay a law requiring its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to divest from the app by January 19, 2025. Without compliance, TikTok faces a potential nationwide ban.
This ruling marks a significant setback for TikTok, which claims the law violates free speech. The appeals court upheld its earlier decision, stating that such laws have not been blocked post-constitutional validation.
TikTok plans to escalate the case to the Supreme Court, emphasizing the potential impact on its 170 million US users. The company argues divestment within the given timeframe is unfeasible, labeling the mandate unconstitutional.
The ‘Divest or Ban’ law stems from national security concerns over TikTok’s Chinese ownership. The US government fears user data may be accessed by Beijing, prompting bipartisan support for this legislation.
If TikTok fails to comply, the app could be removed from stores, restricting downloads and updates, impacting millions of users who rely on it for communication, content, and entertainment.
