A U.S. court has ruled that TikTok must either be sold or face a potential ban in the next year due to its links to the Chinese government. This ruling marks a significant win for the U.S. Department of Justice and a major setback for ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, which could face substantial penalties. With 170 million U.S. users, TikTok has been accused of sharing sensitive American data with the Chinese government.
Chief Judge Merrick Garland emphasized that the ruling is a critical move to prevent China from using TikTok for surveillance. The Chinese embassy in the U.S. has dismissed the ruling as a trade dispute, warning of potential damage to bilateral relations. The court also cautioned that the matter should be handled carefully to avoid harming relations between the two nations.
Under the ruling, TikTok can continue operating in the U.S. for six more weeks, but it may face closure or a sale within this timeframe. The U.S. Department of Justice has urged ByteDance to appeal the decision to the Supreme Court.
