In a legal showdown that could reshape the digital landscape, a U.S. appeals court has expedited the consideration of challenges to a law mandating China-based ByteDance to offload TikTok’s U.S. operations by January 19 or confront a ban.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia has slated oral arguments for September, responding to the urgency expressed by TikTok, ByteDance, and a consortium of TikTok content creators, who, in alliance with the Justice Department, implored for swift proceedings.
The legal wrangle ensued after a coalition of TikTok creators moved to thwart the law that threatens to halt the app’s usage by its 170 million American devotees, asserting its profound impact on American society. Following suit, TikTok and its parent company, ByteDance, launched a parallel legal offensive.
Under the brisk timetable, the content creators, along with TikTok and ByteDance, are obliged to submit legal briefs by June 20, while the Justice Department must present its arguments by July 26, with rebuttals due by August 15.
TikTok expressed confidence that the expedited schedule could obviate the need for emergency injunctive relief. Both TikTok and the Justice Department aspire for a ruling by December 6, enabling recourse to the Supreme Court if necessary.
The legislation, inked by President Joe Biden on April 24, grants ByteDance until January 19 to divest TikTok, under the pretext of national security concerns regarding Chinese ownership. However, the administration has underscored its aversion to a blanket ban on TikTok.
The law not only bars platforms like Apple and Google from featuring TikTok but also prohibits internet hosting services from supporting the app sans ByteDance’s divestment. This legislative maneuver, propelled by apprehensions among U.S. lawmakers about potential Chinese data exploitation or espionage, garnered resounding bipartisan support in Congress, swiftly ushered into law mere weeks after its introduction.
As the legal saga unfolds, it portends consequential ramifications for the tech landscape, navigating the delicate terrain of national security and digital sovereignty.
