Senators Ed Markey (D) and Rand Paul (R) jointly appealed to President Biden on Thursday, requesting a 90-day extension to the January 19 deadline for ByteDance to sell TikTok’s U.S. operations or face a potential ban.
The timing of their request coincides with the Supreme Court’s scheduled January 10 hearing of TikTok and ByteDance’s challenge to the divestment law. In their appeal, the senators emphasized the need to delay the deadline, considering the pending legal resolution and its potential impact on free expression.
The case reached the Supreme Court following a lower court’s decision to uphold the law, which received congressional approval and presidential signature in April. The Justice Department maintains that TikTok presents substantial national security concerns regarding data access and content influence capabilities. TikTok, serving 170 million U.S. users, contests these claims and argues the law infringes upon First Amendment rights.
The issue has drawn varied responses from political leaders. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell strongly opposes any deadline extension, while Senators Josh Hawley (R) and Richard Blumenthal (D) advocate for ByteDance’s compliance with the legislation.
Former President Trump, who previously attempted to ban TikTok in 2020, has shifted his position during his current presidential campaign. He recently supported the platform and indicated his intention to protect it. Trump’s presidency begins on January 20, the day after the current deadline.
The Biden administration now faces decisions about TikTok’s future amid divergent pressures from Congress and the public. The Supreme Court’s ruling could establish important precedents regarding the intersection of national security and free expression in digital communications. At the same time, TikTok and ByteDance continue their legal defense with significant implications for their American user base.
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