DOJ Urges Court to Reject TikTok's Bid to Block U.S. Ban, Citing National Security

Dec 13, 2024, 03:15 AM

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has asked a U.S. appeals court to reject TikTok's effort to block a law that would force the company to divest from its Chinese-based parent company, ByteDance, or face a ban in the U.S. on January 19, 2025. The law, signed by President Joe Biden, aims to address national security concerns related to data collection and potential content manipulation by the Chinese government. TikTok has filed an emergency motion to halt the ban, arguing that a small delay would not cause serious national security concerns. The DOJ contends that the continued control of TikTok by ByteDance poses a significant threat to national security. Despite President-elect Donald Trump's campaign promise not to support a TikTok ban, the company has expressed its intent to appeal the decision, citing the platform's popularity and its role as a major speech platform in the U.S.