Federal Court Backs TikTok Ban As Security Deadline Nears

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit upheld a law banning TikTok, affirming that Congress has the authority to take action against the platform due to national security concerns. The ruling mandates that TikTok’s parent company ByteDance must sell the app to an American entity by January 19, 2025, or face a nationwide ban.

A three-judge panel dismissed TikTok’s claims that the ban violates the First Amendment, ruling that Congress acted within its rights to protect Americans’ data from foreign adversaries. Judge Douglas Ginsburg, writing for the court, emphasized the significance of the threat posed by China’s potential access to U.S. user data.

“The Government acted solely to protect freedom of speech from foreign interference,” Ginsburg wrote, adding that the burden on TikTok users stems from China’s practices, not the U.S. government’s actions.

TikTok had sued the federal government earlier this year, arguing that the ban overstepped constitutional limits. Despite these objections, the court maintained that the ban was essential for national security, citing TikTok’s extensive reach and influence.

The law, passed by Congress, gives ByteDance until January 19 to divest its ownership of TikTok. A 90-day extension may be granted if significant progress is made toward meeting the requirement.

This ruling escalates the pressure on ByteDance to comply, as failure to do so would see TikTok banned in its largest overseas market. Millions of U.S. users will be affected by the decision, which has drawn mixed reactions from lawmakers, privacy advocates, and tech industry observers.

As TikTok considers an appeal to the Supreme Court, the ruling highlights the U.S. government’s resolve to address national security risks posed by foreign-owned tech platforms. ByteDance now faces an uncertain future in one of the world’s most competitive digital markets.