TikTok asks for temporary halt to US ban pending Supreme Court review

(CLO) On December 9, ByteDance and TikTok asked the appeals court to temporarily block the law requiring parent company ByteDance to divest from TikTok in the US by January 19, pending review by the US Supreme Court.

ByteDance and TikTok have filed an emergency petition with the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, warning that failing to block the law could see TikTok shut down in the US, where it is one of the most popular platforms with more than 170 million monthly domestic users.

If the bill is not blocked, TikTok could be banned in the US in six weeks, which would reduce the company's value in the eyes of ByteDance and investors, and negatively affect businesses that rely on TikTok to drive sales.

Photo: Reuters

On December 6, a three-judge panel of the appeals court upheld a law requiring ByteDance to divest TikTok in the US by early next year or face a ban in just six weeks.

ByteDance’s lawyers said the chances of the Supreme Court taking up the case and reversing the order were strong enough to warrant a stay. A delay would give the new U.S. administration a chance to shape its position, potentially avoiding potential harm and reducing the need for Supreme Court intervention.

TikTok also asked the appeals court to issue a decision by December 16 to allow for timely processing. Meanwhile, the US Department of Justice urged the court to reject the request to "maximize the time the Supreme Court has to consider" ByteDance's petition.

The appeals court’s decision puts TikTok’s fate in the hands of President Joe Biden, whose administration will have to decide by Jan. 19 whether to extend the 90-day deadline. President-elect Donald Trump, who takes office on Jan. 20, will then have the final say. But it’s unclear whether ByteDance can meet the requirements to trigger the extension.

Trump, who tried unsuccessfully to ban TikTok in 2020, said before the November election that he would not allow a ban on TikTok. National security adviser Mike Waltz said Trump wanted to save TikTok but stressed the need to protect American users' data.

In addition to TikTok, the law also gives the US government broad powers to ban foreign apps that pose a risk of collecting US user data. Earlier in 2020, Mr. Trump's attempt to ban Tencent's WeChat was also rejected by the court.

Ngoc Anh (according to Reuters)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/tiktok-xin-tam-dung-lenh-cam-cua-my-trong-khi-cho-toa-an-toi-cao-xem-xet-post324932.html