TikTok files emergency motion to stop ban from taking effect

TikTok has filed an emergency motion with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit to prevent a nationwide ban scheduled for January 19, 2025. The company argues that the prohibition, mandated unless its parent company ByteDance divests from TikTok, violates constitutional rights and would silence one of the most popular platforms in the U.S., used by approximately 170 million Americans.

TikTok seeks an injunction to pause the enforcement of the law while the Supreme Court considers reviewing the case. This step is vital to address what TikTok calls an “exceptionally important case” involving free speech and economic impact. The appeal follows a federal court decision upholding the ban, citing national security concerns tied to TikTok’s ownership by a Chinese company.

This legal move follows a federal court’s recent decision to uphold the divest-or-ban law, citing national security concerns linked to ByteDance’s ownership. TikTok counters that alternative measures, such as enhanced data privacy protections, could address security issues without resorting to an outright ban.