TikTok Ban Looms as Lawmakers Push for Extended Sale Deadline

Two Democratic lawmakers have urged Congress and President Joe Biden to extend the January 19 deadline for ByteDance, the China-based owner of TikTok, to sell its U.S. assets or face a ban. TikTok, used by 170 million Americans, risks going offline if the ban is enforced.

Noel Francisco, TikTok's legal representative, argued before the Supreme Court that completing the divestiture within a week is impossible. The Biden administration can extend the deadline by 90 days if ByteDance demonstrates substantial progress, but meeting this standard seems unlikely.

Senator Edward Markey proposed legislation to delay the deadline by 270 days, warning that a ban would disrupt a vital platform for cultural and economic connections. "We cannot dismantle a unique ecosystem that supports millions," Markey emphasized.

Representative Ro Khanna also called on Biden to halt the ban, citing risks to free speech and livelihoods. President-elect Donald Trump has requested the court delay implementing the law, suggesting he address the issue politically after taking office on January 20.

If the court does not intervene by Sunday, new TikTok downloads on Apple and Google app stores will be banned. Current users will retain access temporarily, but the app’s services will degrade over time as companies are barred from providing support.

The White House has yet to comment on the situation, leaving TikTok's future in the U.S. uncertain. This ongoing legal and political debate underscores the app's significant impact on American society and the global tech landscape.