TikTok is one step closer to being banned in the United States after a federal appeals court upheld a law requiring its Chinese owner, ByteDance, to sell the app by January 19, 2025, or face a nationwide ban.
The court dismissed TikTok’s argument that the law violates the US Constitution, ruling that the law is focused on national security concerns. “The law targets control by a foreign adversary, not the content or speech on TikTok,” the judges stated.
In response, TikTok announced plans to appeal the ruling to the Supreme Court. Company spokesperson Michael Hughes argued, “This ban is based on flawed and hypothetical concerns, essentially amounting to censorship. If enforced, it will silence over 170 million Americans.”
ByteDance has also expressed that selling TikTok is not an option, calling it “impossible.”
US officials have raised concerns that TikTok could allow the Chinese government to access American user data or manipulate content for propaganda purposes. While no evidence of such actions has been presented, the government maintains that the ownership structure itself poses a significant risk.
The court supported this view, stating, “Even without evidence of manipulation in the US, the risk is significant enough to justify action.” The law also gives President Biden the option to extend the January deadline, although no decision on that has been made yet.
If the ban is implemented, app stores and internet service providers could face penalties for hosting TikTok. Analysts suggest that social media giants like Meta, YouTube, and Snapchat could benefit from TikTok’s removal.
However, American content creators have expressed concern. One creator stated, “I don’t want Zuckerberg to own TikTok. This is insane.” Another remarked, “I hope TikTok survives, but it doesn’t look good.”
Critics, including Patrick Toomey from the ACLU, argue that the ban sets a dangerous precedent. “The government has no evidence of harm,” he said, adding that a broader privacy law could address the concerns without singling out specific apps.
As the January deadline approaches, TikTok’s future in the US hinges on its Supreme Court appeal or a potential last-minute resolution. In the meantime, the fate of its 170 million American users remains uncertain.
