The prospect of a TikTok ban in the US is becoming more imminent, as a recent ruling from an appeals court has diminished the last glimmers of hope for the video-sharing platform.
ByteDance’s avenues for halting the ban are dwindling
Sabrina Willmer contributes for Bloomberg:
The Chinese parent company of TikTok faces a potential ban in the US unless it complies with a January 19 deadline to divest the video app, following a federal appeals court ruling issued on Friday.
A three-judge panel in Washington unanimously endorsed a new US law aimed at safeguarding national security and user privacy, stating that it does not infringe upon free speech rights protected by the First Amendment. This ruling positions the Supreme Court as the company’s final plausible chance to prevent the law from coming into effect.
The prospect of a TikTok ban has been brewing for quite some time. Legislation was enacted as early as April, mandating that owner ByteDance must divest its US operations by early 2025, or risk being barred from the country.
Despite the contentious nature of a potential TikTok ban, today’s ruling reflects a consistent attitude among current governmental figures towards implementing the prohibition.
However, one significant variable remains: the influence of the upcoming US administration.
As noted by Bloomberg, the January 19 deadline for TikTok coincides with the day before the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump. Though he supported the TikTok ban during his previous term, Trump has recently voiced opposition to such measures, suggesting he may take steps to prevent the ban.
As January 19 approaches, the likelihood of the ban being enacted appears to increase. Nonetheless, there is still ample time for circumstances to shift, even as ByteDance’s potential paths narrow.
Do you believe TikTok will ultimately face a ban? Share your thoughts with us in the comments.
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