A federal appeals court rejected TikTok’s request Friday to postpone the mid-January deadline requiring its Chinese parent company ByteDance to sell the platform or face a US ban, setting the stage for a potential Supreme Court showdown.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit deemed the request “unwarranted,” noting the unprecedented nature of seeking to delay enforcement of congressional legislation after its constitutionality was upheld. The decision maintains pressure on ByteDance to divest TikTok by January 19, one day before President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration.
The ruling comes amid escalating tensions over the platform’s future in America, where it serves more than 170 million users. Despite TikTok’s denials, U.S. officials maintain that ByteDance could be compelled by Chinese authorities to compromise user data or manipulate content for Beijing’s interests.
President Biden’s signed legislation earlier this year mandates TikTok’s sale to an approved buyer, citing national security concerns. While TikTok’s legal team prepares a Supreme Court appeal, the company is also pursuing potential relief through President-elect Trump, who pledged to “save” the platform during his campaign.
The Justice Department opposed TikTok’s delay request, arguing that the current timeline already accommodates Supreme Court review before the law takes effect. Legal experts suggest the case’s novel intersection of social media, national security, and First Amendment issues may attract Supreme Court attention.
