The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit upheld a ban on TikTok, citing national security risks associated with its Chinese ownership. The ruling, handed down by a three-judge panel, allows Congress’ legislation to take effect in January, forcing TikTok’s parent company ByteDance to divest or face a nationwide ban.

The court rejected claims from TikTok that the law infringes on First Amendment rights, ruling that the ban is a necessary measure to safeguard national security. Judge Douglas Ginsburg wrote that the decision aimed to protect Americans’ freedom of speech by limiting data access by the Chinese government.

“The First Amendment exists to protect free speech in the United States,” Ginsburg stated. “The Government acted solely to protect that freedom from a foreign adversary nation.”

The legislation requires ByteDance to sell TikTok to an American company by January 19, 2025. Without compliance, TikTok will be banned, though the President may grant a 90-day extension if significant divestiture progress is shown.

TikTok has argued that the ban unfairly burdens its millions of users in the U.S. who rely on the platform for communication and expression. The court acknowledged this impact but placed responsibility on the Chinese government, asserting that its practices created the security threat.

This decision caps a multi-year effort by the U.S. to address concerns about TikTok’s expansive reach and the potential for Chinese influence. The platform is now expected to appeal the ruling to the Supreme Court, escalating the legal battle further.

With the January deadline looming, ByteDance faces the choice of selling the platform or losing access to the lucrative U.S. market. The ruling signals a strong stance by the U.S. government against foreign threats in the digital space.