US appeals court upholds law forcing sale or ban of TikTok

Decision is latest twist in a years-long battle between the social media company and the US government

TikTok is one step closer to facing a ban in the US. A federal appeals court ruled on Friday to uphold a law that forces the hugely popular social media company to sell its assets to a non-Chinese company or be barred from the country entirely. The decision is the latest twist in a years-long battle between the US government and TikTok, which is owned by Chinese-based ByteDance.

ByteDance has until 19 January to sell the app or face the ban.