A United States federal appeals court ruled that ByteDance, TikTok’s Chinese owner, must sell its US operations by January 19, 2025, or face a nationwide ban.

This decision may increase the chances of TikTok being restricted in the US, used by 170 million Americans.

The Justice Department backs the decision, claiming TikTok endangers US data security. Attorney General Merrick Garland described it as a move against potential Chinese government influence.

Meanwhile, organizations like the American Civil Liberties Union oppose the decision. They cite possible First Amendment violations for US users relying on TikTok for communication.

TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew assured staff of efforts to challenge the ruling. China’s embassy in Washington criticized the law and warned about harming US-China ties.

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