On Monday, TikTok and its parent company, ByteDance, will go head-to-head with the US Justice Department in a high-stakes legal case in Washington, DC.
The companies are fighting to prevent a possible ban on the popular video-sharing platform, which has 170 million users in the United States.
A panel of three judges from the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia will hear arguments on whether TikTok must sell its US assets or face a nationwide ban by January 19.
TikTok and ByteDance claim that such a move would be unconstitutional, arguing it violates free speech rights and represents a significant shift from the country’s longstanding support for an open internet.
At the heart of the dispute is national security. US officials argue that TikTok’s ownership by Chinese-based ByteDance poses a threat, suggesting the Chinese government could potentially access user data or manipulate information.
ByteDance, however, insists that selling TikTok’s US operations isn’t viable and warns that a ban would lead to major disruptions.
The legal clash comes at a politically sensitive time, during the final stretch of the 2024 presidential race.
Both Donald Trump and Kamala Harris actively use TikTok to connect with younger voters, while President Joe Biden may extend the January 19 deadline if ByteDance makes progress in divesting its US interests. Notably, Trump has stated he wouldn’t support a full ban if re-elected, complicating the political landscape.
A decision is expected by December 6, leaving time for the US Supreme Court to potentially weigh in before the ban is enforced.
The White House remains firm in its goal to end TikTok’s Chinese ownership in the name of national security. As TikTok’s legal team readies its defense, the outcome could have far-reaching implications for both the platform’s users and ByteDance’s global operations.
