TikTok, owned by the Chinese company ByteDance, has filed an emergency appeal with the United States Supreme Court to challenge legislation that may lead to a ban on the app by January 19.

The legal team for TikTok argues that a ban would infringe upon First Amendment rights, referencing the Supreme Court’s history in free-speech cases.

The company also warned that removing the app could result in over US$1 billion in losses for creators and small businesses.

The timeline for the Supreme Court’s review of TikTok’s appeal is yet to be determined.

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