A federal appeals court upheld a law that could lead to a ban on TikTok in the U.S.

TikTok must be sold to a U.S. owner by January 19, 2025, or face a de facto ban from app stores and internet services

TikTok is expected to continue its legal battle against the ruling, arguing that the law infringes on the First Amendment rights of its users

The U.S. government has expressed worries that TikTok's data collection practices could be exploited by the Chinese government

President Biden has the authority to grant a one-time extension on the divestment deadline if deemed necessary

If TikTok does not divest, millions of American users will have to find alternative platforms for their social media needs

This situation follows previous attempts to ban TikTok under the Trump administration, which were ultimately blocked by courts

The legislation mandating TikTok's sale received support from both major political parties in Congress, reflecting widespread concern over foreign influence in American technology