TikTok and ByteDance Ask Supreme Court to Block U.S. Ban Mandating Divestiture by January 19

Dec 16, 2024, 08:25 PM

TikTok and its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, have filed an emergency appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court seeking to block a government ban set to take effect on January 19, 2025, unless the company divests the app. The law, passed by Congress, requires ByteDance to sell TikTok or face a nationwide ban, which TikTok argues is an unprecedented restriction on free speech and violates the First Amendment. The appeal follows the D.C. Circuit Court's denial of TikTok's request for an injunction on Friday. TikTok has requested that the Supreme Court stay the law pending appeal and issue a ruling by January 6. Lawyers for TikTok, including former Solicitor General Noel Francisco, urge the justices to intervene promptly to prevent the ban from taking effect.