ByteDance And TikTok Seek Temporary Halt To U.S. Ban

ByteDance and its short-video app TikTok have filed an emergency motion asking the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia to temporarily block a law requiring ByteDance to divest TikTok by Jan. 19 or face a nationwide ban, Reuters’ David Shepardson reported.

ByteDance argued that banning TikTok would significantly devalue the app, harm businesses reliant on the platform, and disrupt users' access to a major speech platform. I Photo: HS You Flickr

The companies warned that without a temporary injunction, the law would take effect, effectively shutting down TikTok for its 170 million monthly U.S. users just before the presidential inauguration.

ByteDance argued that banning TikTok would significantly devalue the app, harm businesses reliant on the platform, and disrupt users' access to a major speech platform.

A three-judge panel has upheld the law, affirming that ByteDance must sell TikTok’s U.S. operations or face a ban.

In their filing, ByteDance’s lawyers stated that the Supreme Court is likely to review and possibly reverse the decision, justifying the need for a temporary pause to allow further deliberation.

Without relief, TikTok could disappear from the U.S. market in six weeks, a move that would reverberate across industries and communities dependent on the app for commerce and communication.