TikTok and DOJ are seeking an expedited court ruling on the US ban

A ruling in the TikTok versus the American government case may be made this year. All parties involved, including TikTok’s Chinese parent company ByteDance and the US Department of Justice (DOJ), have reportedly asked a US appeals court to expedite the case. They want the court to set an accelerated schedule and announce its ruling by December 6, 2024. This gives ByteDance sufficient time to seek Supreme Court review if necessary.

TikTok wants a quick ruling on its lawsuit against the US government

Earlier this month, TikTok filed a lawsuit against the US government over the recently passed law that aims to ban the app in the country over security concerns. The bill, which received overwhelming majorities during the representative votes in the House and Senate, was signed by President Joe Biden within a few weeks. It gives ByteDance until January 19, 2025 to sell the American branch of TikTok, otherwise a nationwide ban will be imposed.

TikTok is expected to be unhappy about it and has challenged the law in court, calling it “unconstitutional.” A group of US-based TikTok creators have also filed a lawsuit against the US government over the potential ban. They say the law violates their First Amendment rights and “will shut down a discreet communications medium that has become part of American life.” The makers have labeled the proposed ban as an ‘extraordinary restriction of expression’.

All parties have now asked the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia to announce its ruling on the case by December 6. They asked the court to schedule the case for oral arguments at the earliest practical date. during the September business calendar. The Justice Department plans to secretly provide the court with confidential materials to support its claims that TikTok poses a national security threat to the country.

TikTok could turn to the Supreme Court if necessary

If the initial ruling is against you, TikTok will likely turn to the Supreme Court. An accelerated ruling in the first week of December will make this possible to seek timely review from the Supreme Court. Only time will tell what the future holds for the American arm of the video-based social media platform. “In light of the large number of users of the TikTok platform, the general public has a strong interest in seeing this matter resolved expeditiously,” the Justice Department and TikTok petitioners said in a statement following their request for expedited process.