ByteDance, the parent company behind the short-video app TikTok, has requested a temporary halt to a U.S. law that requires ByteDance to divest TikTok by January 19 or face a ban. The move comes as the companies prepare for a Supreme Court review of the case.
On Monday, ByteDance and TikTok filed an emergency motion with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, urging the court to block the law temporarily. They argued that without such an order, the law would take effect, shutting down TikTok for its more than 170 million domestic monthly users just before the upcoming presidential inauguration.
Earlier, on December 6, a three-judge panel upheld the legislation mandating ByteDance to divest TikTok in the United States by early next year or face a six-week ban. The companies now contend that the likelihood of the Supreme Court reversing this decision is high enough to warrant a temporary pause, allowing time for further deliberation.
ByteDance and TikTok also highlighted that President-elect Donald Trump has pledged to prevent a ban. They believe that delaying enforcement will allow the incoming administration to clarify its stance, which could potentially negate the need for a Supreme Court review.
The Justice Department has responded by urging the appeals court to deny the request swiftly to maximize the time available for the Supreme Court's consideration of the petitions from ByteDance and TikTok.
TikTok has requested the appeals court to decide on their motion by December 16. The final decision, unless overturned by the Supreme Court, will rest with incoming President Joe Biden on whether to grant a 90-day extension to the January 19 deadline, followed by a decision from Trump, who takes office on January 20.
The platform has also warned that a court ruling could disrupt services for millions of TikTok users outside the United States, as hundreds of U.S. service providers involved in maintenance, distribution, and updates would be unable to support the app starting January 19.
Reference(s):
ByteDance, TikTok seek to pause U.S. ban pending Supreme Court review
cgtn.com
