US government appeals lower court ruling to enjoin TikTok restrictions News
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US government appeals lower court ruling to enjoin TikTok restrictions

The United States government on Monday appealed a federal judge’s order that blocked the Commerce Department from imposing restrictions on Chinese-owned short video-sharing app TikTok that would have effectively barred its use in the US.

On December 7, United States District Court Judge Carl Nichols of the DC Circuit granted an injunction, enjoining the Secretary of Commerce from prohibiting transactions between TikTok and U.S. citizens.

The appeal will continue a battle that began when President Donald Trump signed an August 2020 Executive Order, which identified the Chinese application as a potential threat to national security, foreign policy, and the United States economy.

A group of TikTok content creators, separately from TikTok’s own suit, have challenged the prohibitions of the executive order in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. In October, Judge Wendy Beetlestone, postponed President Trump’s ban. A ruling which the Department of Justice has also appealed to the United States Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit.

It is unclear whether the various Appeals Courts will uphold the District Courts in enjoining enforcement of the TikTok Executive Order. With Inauguration Day less than a month away, it is possible that the Courts of Appeal will not issue rulings prior to January 20 inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden. After his inauguration, President-elect Biden will have the authority to continue or terminate the Executive Order.

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