An appeals court has upheld a law requiring TikTok to be sold by January 19, 2024, or face a ban in the United States, citing national security concerns.

The court rejected TikTok’s argument that the law violated free speech, with Judge Douglas Ginsburg stating the government is safeguarding citizens from potential foreign threats.

Attorney General Merrick Garland lauded the ruling, emphasizing it prevents the Chinese government from exploiting TikTok to collect U.S. user data or manipulate content. TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, plans to appeal the decision to the Supreme Court.

The legislation, signed by President Joe Biden, prohibits TikTok from app stores and hosting platforms if it remains under Chinese ownership. Non-compliant companies risk facing substantial penalties.

Also read: TikTok writes letter to NTA, expresses dissatisfaction after ban

This ruling is particularly significant as it precedes Donald Trump’s potential return to the presidency, which could prompt further policy shifts.

TikTok, boasting approximately 170 million U.S. users, has faced scrutiny before. Trump had previously attempted to ban the app over security concerns, but Biden revoked that ban. India banned TikTok and 58 other Chinese apps in 2020, also citing national security threats.