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