A federal appeals court has denied TikTok\’s petition to have the U.S. Supreme Court temporarily pause and review legislation that could lead to a ban of the app in the United States. This decision leaves the platform\’s future in limbo, despite a comment from President-elect Donald Trump offering a more uncertain outlook.
On Friday, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit rejected TikTok and its parent company, ByteDance\’s motion to delay legislation that would block TikTok in the U.S. unless ByteDance sells the app by January 19, 2025. TikTok\’s spokesperson responded, stating that they plan to bring the case before the Supreme Court, emphasizing the impact this ban would have on over 170 million U.S. users. \”The voices of over 170 million Americans will be silenced unless the TikTok ban is halted,\” they said in a statement to USA TODAY.
The appeal was filed on December 9, asking the Supreme Court to review the legislation after the federal appeals court indicated support for it earlier this month.
What does Trump think about the potential TikTok ban?
Despite his previous attempts to ban TikTok during his presidency, President-elect Donald Trump expressed a softer stance on the app. On Monday, he revealed that he has a \”warm spot\” for TikTok, acknowledging its influence, particularly in connecting with younger voters during the 2024 election. \”TikTok had an impact, and so we\’re taking a look at it,” Trump said. “I have a little bit of a warm spot in my heart. I’ll be honest.”
What’s at stake for TikTok?
The legislation, signed by President Joe Biden in the spring, known as the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, mandates that TikTok will be banned from U.S. app stores such as the Apple App Store and Google Play if ByteDance doesn\’t sell the platform by January 19, 2025. While users with the app installed on their devices could continue using it, no future updates would be available, potentially diminishing its functionality. If ByteDance sells TikTok before that date, the app will remain available in the U.S.
What is TikTok?
TikTok is a social media platform that allows users to create, post, and engage with short-form videos, typically ranging from three seconds to 10 minutes. It has gained popularity for its personalized algorithm, allowing users to discover content suited to their interests. The platform offers various editing features, including filters, music, stickers, and backgrounds for videos.
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Why is TikTok facing a ban?
TikTok has long been viewed by U.S. officials as a national security risk, with concerns that ByteDance, based in Beijing, could share American user data with the Chinese government for surveillance purposes. Former President Trump declared a national emergency in 2019, citing the threat posed by \”foreign adversaries\” exploiting vulnerabilities in U.S. technology. President Biden later continued the stance in 2021, declaring that ByteDance \”continues to threaten the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States.\” In 2022, Biden signed a bill banning TikTok from government devices.
