Two Democratic lawmakers have called on Congress and President Joe Biden to extend the January 19 deadline for ByteDance, the China-based owner of TikTok, to sell its U.S. operations. If the sale does not occur by this date, TikTok could face an outright ban in the United States, potentially disrupting access for its 170 million American users.
Supreme Court Hears TikTok’s Legal Challenge
On Friday, the Supreme Court heard arguments in TikTok and ByteDance’s challenge to the ruling mandating the sale. Noel Francisco, a lawyer representing the companies, argued that meeting the January 19 deadline was “impossible.” He cautioned that if TikTok were banned, the platform would quickly go dark and “essentially the platform shuts down,” depriving millions of Americans of a popular app.
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President Joe Biden has the authority to extend the deadline by 90 days if ByteDance demonstrates substantial progress toward a divestiture. However, meeting this criterion appears unlikely.
Lawmakers Advocate for Deadline Extension
Senator Edward Markey has announced plans to introduce legislation that would delay the deadline for ByteDance to divest TikTok by an additional 270 days. Markey expressed concern over the broader implications of a TikTok ban, stating:
“A ban would dismantle a one-of-a-kind informational and cultural ecosystem, silencing millions in the process. Millions of Americans depend on TikTok for social connections and their livelihoods. We cannot allow that to happen.”
Representative Ro Khanna echoed these sentiments, urging Biden and President-elect Donald Trump to take steps to pause the ban. “170 million Americans’ free speech and economic livelihoods are at risk. A ban would impose serious consequences on those who depend on TikTok,” Khanna emphasized.
Trump Pushes for Delay
President-elect Donald Trump, set to take office on January 20, has asked the Supreme Court to delay implementing the law. Trump argued that his administration should be allowed time to seek a political resolution to the issue.
If no action is taken by Sunday, new TikTok downloads from Apple and Google app stores will be prohibited. Existing users may temporarily retain access to the app, but services are expected to degrade over time as companies will no longer be allowed to provide operational support.
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A ban on TikTok would have significant ramifications for millions of Americans, particularly content creators and small businesses that rely on the platform for income and engagement. Critics of the ruling warn that banning TikTok would stifle free speech, disrupt livelihoods, and erase a unique cultural platform.