On Friday, May 17, TikTok, the Department of Justice, and a number of TikTok creators asked a U.S. appeals court to speed up its consideration of legal challenges to the legislation that could ban TikTok nationwide.
The bill, which President Joe Biden signed into law on April 24, demands that ByteDance, the platform’s China-based parent company, sell the app to a U.S. buyer by Jan. 19. If it doesn’t, TikTok faces a national ban.
What are the current lawsuits by TikTok against the U.S. government?
While TikTok and a handful of creators are making this request together, they are suing the government in two separate cases. Both argue as part of their lawsuits that banning the platform violates users’ First Amendment rights.
These parties, along with the Department of Justice, asked the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia to make its ruling by Dec. 6, 2024. This is so that they can seek a Supreme Court review of the decision before the deadline of Jan. 19, 2025.
According to Reuters, these petitioners also asked the court to set the case for oral arguments sooner rather than later in the September case calendar.
Why is TikTok fast-tracking their legal case?
Per Reuters, the trio said in a statement: “In light of the large number of users of the TikTok platform, the public at large has a significant interest in the prompt disposition of this matter.”
TikTok also added that through this expedited schedule, it believes that the legal issue will resolve without having to request an emergency preliminary injunctive relief.
The outlet also quotes the Justice Department as saying that it might secretly file classified material with the court regarding potential national security concerns posed by the platform.
Further reading:
- Now TikTok Creators Are Suing the U.S. Government Too
- It’s Official: TikTok Is Suing the U.S. Government
- Lawyers Are Rallying Creators for a Class Action Lawsuit to Save TikTok
- Dear President Biden: TikTokers Pen Open Letter to ‘Stop the Ban’
- Sell or Be Banned: Why the Latest Bill to Ban TikTok Won’t Solve the Problem
