The United States government and TikTok are engaged in a critical legal battle that could determine TikTok’s future in the country.
Oral arguments have begun in federal court, with TikTok challenging a U.S. law that requires it to sever ties with its China-based parent company, ByteDance, or face a ban by January 2025.
The law, signed by President Joe Biden, stems from concerns over national security, as TikTok is accused of potentially sharing sensitive user data with the Chinese government and being vulnerable to content manipulation.
TikTok denies these allegations, claiming the law violates the First Amendment and that divestiture would cripple the platform.
The Justice Department stresses the risk of Chinese government influence and data misuse. TikTok argues that it proposed solutions, including third-party monitoring, but negotiations with the government stalled.
The case may reach the U.S. Supreme Court.
TikTok’s fate could also affect the broader tech industry and U.S.-China relations, with impacts on millions of American users and content creators.
Some lawmakers and advocacy groups support TikTok, while others back the government’s push for stricter controls on foreign-owned tech companies.