TikTok Challenges US Law in Appeals Court

TikTok and its parent company ByteDance are engaged in a critical legal battle against a U.S. law that mandates the app's sale to a non-Chinese entity or face a nationwide ban by January 19, 2025. The U.S. government argues that TikTok poses a national security threat due to potential data access by the Chinese government, while TikTok contends that the law infringes on First Amendment rights and lacks substantiated evidence of such threats. During hearings at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, judges expressed skepticism about both TikTok's and the government's arguments, questioning the balance between national security concerns and free speech rights. TikTok has also cited that the law could significantly harm American users and content creators who rely on the platform for expression and income. Legal experts anticipate the case may escalate to the Supreme Court for a final decision. The court is expected to deliver a decision before December 6, 2024, to allow time for further appeals.