TikTok, ByteDance sue to block US law seeking sale or ban of app

TikTok and its Chinese parent company ByteDance sued in U.S. federal court on Tuesday seeking to block a law signed by President Joe Biden that would force the divestiture of the short video app used by 170 million Americans or ban it.

The companies filed their lawsuit in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, arguing that the law violates the U.S. Constitution on a number of grounds including running afoul of First Amendment free speech protections. 

The law, signed by Biden on April 24, gives ByteDance until Jan. 19 to sell TikTok or face a ban.

The White House has said it wants to see Chinese-based ownership ended on national security grounds but not a ban on TikTok. 

The White House and Justice Department declined to comment on the lawsuit.

The lawsuit is the latest move by TikTok to keep ahead of efforts to shut it down in the United States as companies such as Snap (SNAP.N), opens new tab and Meta look to capitalize on TikTok's political uncertainty to take away advertising dollars from their rival.

The law prohibits app stores like Apple (AAPL.O), opens new tab and Alphabet's Google (GOOGL.O), opens new tab from offering TikTok and bars internet hosting services from supporting TikTok unless ByteDance divests TikTok by Jan. 19.

According to the suit, 58% of ByteDance is owned by global institutional investors including BlackRock, General Atlantic and Susquehanna International Group, 21% owned by the company's Chinese founder and 21% owned by employees - including about 7,000 Americans.