The U.S. Appeals Court will hear oral arguments regarding the TikTok ban case 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 (CFIUS) prompted the Commerce Department to issue a download ban on TikTok in the U.S., which was subsequently blocked by a U.S. District Judge in September.

Key developments include:

• ByteDance has proposed multiple solutions, including creating TikTok Global, owned by Oracle, Walmart, and existing U.S. investors
• Communication with the U.S. government reportedly ceased after the election
• U.S. District Judge Wendy Beetlestone blocked additional restrictions on TikTok's U.S. operations
• The Trump administration claims TikTok poses national security risks through data collection
• TikTok denies sharing user data with the Chinese Communist Party

The upcoming hearing will determine whether the government can ban the app's U.S. operations. While the December 14th hearing may not result in an immediate ban, the situation remains complex with the incoming Biden administration.

President-elect Biden has expressed concerns about TikTok's influence, noting its access to over 100 million young Americans. However, it's unclear whether his administration will pursue the ban, especially considering the proposed Oracle/Walmart deal that would create a U.S.-based entity managing data for users in the U.S., Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

Current indicators suggest the judge will likely maintain the original decision to block the Commerce Department order, allowing TikTok to continue operating in the United States.

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