US court to hear challenges to potential TikTok ban in September

The new law, signed by President Joe Biden on April 24, mandates that China-based ByteDance must divest TikTok's U.S. assets by January 19, 2025, or face a ban. The law is driven by concerns among U.S. lawmakers that China could access data on Americans or use the app for spying. It prohibits app stores like Apple and Alphabet's Google from offering TikTok and bars internet hosting services from supporting TikTok unless ByteDance divests TikTok.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia has set a fast-track schedule to consider the legal challenges. Oral arguments are scheduled for September. TikTok, ByteDance, and a group of TikTok content creators, along with the Justice Department, requested this expedited schedule. Legal briefs from the creators, TikTok, and ByteDance are due by June 20, and the Justice Department's briefs are due by July 26, with reply briefs due by August 15.

The White House wants ByteDance to divest TikTok on national security grounds. U.S. lawmakers are worried that China could access data on Americans or use the app for spying. The law aims to end Chinese-based ownership of TikTok without imposing a complete ban on the app.