The Department of Justice has asked a U.S. appeals court to reject ByteDance and TikTok’s emergency motion that aims to temporarily block the law that would ban TikTok in the U.S. unless the social network divests from Chinese ownership by January 19.
The Justice Department said the court should not delay the matter, arguing that “continued Chinese control of the TikTok application poses a continuing threat to national security,” Reuters reports.
ByteDance and TikTok filed the motion on Monday, asking for the hold in order to give the Supreme Court a chance to review the case.
The companies also argued that a delay would “give the incoming administration time to determine its position.” TikTok may get a lifeline from President-elect Donald Trump, as he has vowed to prevent a ban on the social network.
