The Supreme Court has agreed to hear TikTok's challenge to the national ban law, with oral arguments scheduled for January 10th. This crucial hearing comes just days before the app's potential January 19th operational deadline in the United States.

The key question before the Court centers on whether the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act violates the First Amendment when applied to TikTok and its parent company ByteDance.

Critical Deadlines:

• December 27th: Opening briefs due (13,000-word limit)
• January 3rd: Reply briefs due (6,000-word limit)
• January 10th: Two-hour oral argument
• January 19th: Current ban implementation deadline

The Court has deferred its decision on TikTok's injunction request until after oral arguments. This timing is particularly significant as the ban would take effect one day before the presidential transition. While President-elect Biden has expressed support for the platform, he won't be in office when the deadline hits.

The stakes are exceptionally high for TikTok's 150 million U.S. users. Both Google Play and Apple's App Store have already been notified to prepare for the app's potential removal. ByteDance maintains its position against selling the platform, even as the deadline approaches.

The implementation of such a ban involves complex logistical challenges that go beyond simply deactivating the service. Even if a 90-day presidential extension is granted after the fact, reactivating the platform for its massive user base would involve significant complications.

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