China-based Bytedance has one last avenue to avoid the sale of its TikTok social media service after losing a court appeal to invalidate a US law that requires the service be sold by January 19, 2025.

TikTok’s issues with the US government and courts continue.

In its decision, the US Court of Appeals noted that the law requiring the sale of TikTok was a bipartisan effort in order to counter “a well-substantiated national security threat posed by the PRC (People’s Republic of China).” The US government believes that Bytedance’s ownership of TikTok gives them — and thus the Chinese government — access to a vast trove of personal data collected from users.

TikTok will likely appeal to the Supreme Court, which could result in an extra 90-day stay on enforcement of the law if the court agrees to hear the case and President Biden approves the stay. If it refuses the appeal, TikTok could be facing a ban or forced sale in the US in early January, despite the 170 million Americans using the social media service.

Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums