Appeals Court Hears Arguments Over Potential TikTok Ban in the United States

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Lawyers for TikTok and its parent company, ByteDance, presented their case in a US Court of Appeals, arguing against a potential ban on the app, claiming it would violate US freedom of speech laws. The US Justice Department, however, raised national security concerns, suggesting the app could potentially allow the Chinese government to access user data. A three-judge panel in Washington, DC, began hearing the arguments on Monday.

In April, the US Congress passed a bipartisan bill that requires ByteDance to sell its US TikTok assets by January 19 or face a nationwide ban. TikTok has disputed the claims of data misuse, stating that such a ban would severely limit the app’s operations in the US.

Public opinion on the issue remains mixed. A Pew Research Center survey conducted in mid-2023 showed that 32% of US adults support a ban, while 28% oppose it, and 39% remain unsure. Among teenagers, support for a ban is even lower, with only 18% in favor.

Both TikTok and the US government have requested a court decision by December 6 to allow enough time for further legal action before the law's deadline.