The U.S. Court of Appeals will hear arguments regarding the TikTok ban on December 14th, following months of legal battles and negotiations between ByteDance and the U.S. government.

The controversy began when the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) prompted the Commerce Department to attempt banning TikTok downloads, citing national security concerns. A U.S. District Judge blocked this order in September.

Key developments:

• ByteDance has proposed multiple solutions, including creating TikTok Global, owned by Oracle, Walmart, and U.S. investors
• U.S. District Judge Wendy Beetlestone blocked restrictions on TikTok's data hosting and content delivery services
• Communication between ByteDance and the U.S. government stalled after the election
• The proposed Oracle/Walmart deal would create a U.S. entity managing data for users in the U.S., Canada, Australia, and New Zealand

While the Trump administration pushed for ByteDance to divest TikTok's U.S. assets, the incoming Biden administration has also expressed concerns about the app's data collection practices. Biden noted his concern about TikTok's access to over 100 million young Americans.

The December 14th hearing will determine whether the government can ban the app's U.S. operations. Based on previous rulings, experts expect the judge to uphold the decision blocking the Commerce Department order, allowing TikTok to continue operating in the United States.

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