The TikTok ban law, also known as the TikTok Act, was passed by the US Congress at the end of April and signed by President Joe Biden as part of a larger aid package to Ukraine, Taiwan, and Israel. The law gives Bytedance until January 19 of next year to sell TikTok’s operations in the United States, or else the app will be banned from Apple and Google app stores in the country.
However, Bytedance and TikTok argue that selling the operations within the deadline is not possible and that the law will effectively force the app to shut down in 2025, silencing the 170 million Americans who use the platform for communication. In response to this, Bytedance and TikTok have filed a lawsuit against the US government in an effort to block the law that would ban their popular video service.
The companies cite concerns that the law violates the US Constitution, specifically the First Amendment’s protection of freedom of speech. They argue that forcing TikTok to leave Chinese ownership will have far-reaching implications for free speech and creativity on social media platforms.
Bytedance and TikTok are seeking a ruling from an appeals court to prevent
