TikTok is one step closer to being banned in the United States.
The social media platform’s Chinese parent company ByteDance is asking the United States Supreme Court to review legislation as of Monday (December 9), filing an emergency injunction.
TikTok faces a ban in the U.S. if its parent company does not sell the platform by January 19, 2025.
Keep reading to find out more…
The injunction came after the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit supported the legislation a few days ago on Friday (December 6).
Under the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, signed by President Joe Biden this spring, TikTok will become illegal for distribution in the United States if ByteDance does not sell the platform, via USA Today.
It means TikTok would become illegal for distribution through the Apple App Store and Google Play and ISPs (internet service providers) would be required to make the app inaccessible on U.S. internet browsers.
Users would still be able to use the app, but banning TikTok from app stores would prohibit future updates.
If ByteDance sells TikTok before January 19, 2025, the app will remain available stateside.
“Before that happens, the Supreme Court should have an opportunity, as the only court with appellate jurisdiction over this action, to decide whether to review this exceptionally important case,” the injunction reads. “And an injunction is especially appropriate because it will give the incoming administration time to determine its position, which could moot both the impending harms and the need for Supreme Court review.”
The decision to introduce the law came amid concerns about national security due to TikTok’s Chinese ownership. Find out more about why that happened.
