The US Department of Justice is urging a federal appeals court to uphold a law requiring China-based ByteDance to sell TikTok’s US assets by January 19 or face a ban, citing national security concerns. The DOJ argues that TikTok poses a threat due to its access to Americans’ personal data, allowing China to manipulate information. TikTok denies these claims, stating it would never share US user data with China.
The Biden administration has asked the court to reject lawsuits seeking to block the law. The DOJ’s filing highlights national security risks and ByteDance’s ownership of TikTok. The law, signed by President Biden in April, aims to end Chinese-based ownership on national security grounds, not ban TikTok altogether.
The appeals court will hear oral arguments in September, making TikTok’s fate a key issue in the upcoming presidential election. Both candidates, Trump and Harris, have different views on the app, with Trump opposing a ban while Harris recently joined TikTok.
The law prohibits app stores and internet hosting services from supporting TikTok if not divested by ByteDance, reflecting US concerns about Chinese access to American data. The DOJ rejects TikTok’s arguments, emphasizing national security over free speech concerns.
Source: Reuters
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