The US Supreme Court has agreed to hear TikTok and its parent company ByteDance's appeal against a law that could force the sale of the popular social media platform by January 19 or result in a nationwide ban.
The law, rooted in national security concerns, has raised significant legal and political debates.
The Court, however, declined to act immediately on TikTok and ByteDance’s emergency request for an injunction to block the impending enforcement of the law. Instead, the justices scheduled arguments for January 10 to consider the matter further.
TikTok, which boasts approximately 170 million users in the United States, is challenging a lower court ruling that upheld the controversial legislation. The case has also drawn attention from TikTok content creators, some of whom have joined the petition, citing the potential impact on their livelihoods and free expression.
The decision to hear the case marks a critical juncture in the ongoing legal battle, as the tech industry and policymakers closely watch the outcome for its broader implications on foreign-owned digital platforms operating in the US.