TikTok seeks emergency court block to halt looming US ban
TikTok has filed an emergency request for an injunction to prevent its ban in the US, which is set to take effect next month.
The ban stems from a US law requiring the app to be sold or face prohibition due to alleged ties to the Chinese government—a claim both TikTok and its parent company, ByteDance, deny.
After losing an appeal on Friday, TikTok announced plans to escalate the case to the Supreme Court. In the meantime, the company is asking for a temporary block on the law to allow the Supreme Court to review the case.
The US Department of Justice (DOJ) opposes the request, arguing that TikTok’s legal arguments have already been “definitively rejected.”
TikTok and ByteDance argue the injunction is essential as the Biden administration transitions to former President Donald Trump, who has signalled plans to revoke the ban.
The legal filing states that a ban—even a temporary one—would cause “irreparable injury,” impacting TikTok’s 170 million US users, creators, and revenue.
Friday’s court ruling upheld the law as constitutional, citing bipartisan support and a national security threat posed by the People’s Republic of China. The outcome has heightened the stakes as TikTok fights to avoid being blocked in the US.
