TikTok Faces US Ban After Losing Appeal, Plans Supreme Court Challenge

TikTok’s efforts to overturn a law that could force its ban or sale in the United States by early 2025 have hit a major roadblock, with a federal appeals court rejecting its argument that the legislation violates free speech rights.

The controversial law, supported by bipartisan efforts in Congress and successive administrations, stems from concerns about TikTok’s alleged ties to the Chinese government. Both TikTok and its parent company, ByteDance, have consistently denied these accusations.

The appeals court upheld the legislation, stating it was designed to address “a well-substantiated national security threat posed by the PRC (People’s Republic of China)” and targeted foreign adversary influence.

TikTok, however, remains steadfast in its defense, announcing plans to escalate the case to the US Supreme Court.

“The Supreme Court has an established historical record of protecting Americans’ right to free speech, and we expect they will do just that on this important constitutional issue,” a TikTok spokesperson said in a statement.

The company also criticized the law, calling it based on “inaccurate, flawed, and hypothetical information” and emphasizing that a ban would amount to censorship of its 170 million US users.

The political landscape surrounding TikTok’s future could shift with Donald Trump’s return to the presidency. During his 2024 campaign, Trump indicated that, unlike his earlier efforts to ban the app, he would not enforce the impending legislation.