In a bid to overturn a law that could lead to its ban in the United States, TikTok will appear in court this autumn against the US Department of Justice. The US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia has scheduled hearings for September, where the plaintiffs will challenge the law.
Lawsuit Against Forced Ownership Change
In May, TikTok’s administration filed a lawsuit claiming that the law mandating a change of company ownership is unconstitutional. According to the platform’s management, its departure from ByteDance is “simply impossible” and it has already engaged in discussions with US authorities regarding national security questions. Another group challenging the law includes TikTok bloggers who argue that the law infringes on their First Amendment rights, as it jeopardizes their freedom of speech by potentially barring them from communicating on the platform. TikTok is footing the legal bill for this case.
Combined Cases to be Considered in September
The appellate court will consider both cases, now merged, in September. The platform’s administration is content with the decision to schedule hearings for September. It aims to expedite the case, which could eventually land in the Supreme Court.
