(BALTIMORE – December 7, 2024) – A U.S. appeals court upheld a law requiring TikTok to either divest from its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, or face a potential U.S. ban starting January 19, 2025. The court rejected TikTok’s claims that the law violated the First and Fifth Amendments, emphasizing national security concerns over potential data sharing and manipulation by the Chinese government.
TikTok plans to appeal, citing free speech protections, but ByteDance has previously refused to sell the platform. President Biden signed the law amid bipartisan concerns about ByteDance’s influence. If enforced, app stores and internet providers could face fines for hosting TikTok.
Critics, including the ACLU, argue the ban infringes on free speech, while supporters highlight national security risks. Analysts predict significant impacts on social media, with potential benefits for competitors like Meta and YouTube. Former President Trump, despite initiating efforts to ban TikTok, has since expressed opposition to the idea.
The case could escalate to the Supreme Court, leaving TikTok’s future in the U.S. uncertain.