A federal court has officially rejected TikTok’s appeal for a temporary halt on legislation that could potentially lead to a ban of the popular social media application as soon as next month. This decision, which follows an emergency injunction filed by TikTok earlier this week, marks another significant legal hurdle for the platform as it endeavors to prevent a complete ban in the United States. The ruling signifies the ongoing tensions between the app and governmental regulations aimed at addressing national security concerns surrounding user data and foreign influence.

In its attempt to delay the implementation of the law, TikTok has expressed its intention to escalate the matter to the Supreme Court. The company’s legal team has referenced the possibility that President-elect Donald Trump might adopt a more lenient stance, given his previous remarks regarding the app. However, in a concise order, a panel of three judges firmly denied TikTok’s request, stating that such a delay was deemed “unwarranted” and emphasized the necessity for legal clarity on this pressing issue.

The future of TikTok now hinges on the Supreme Court’s willingness to examine the case, although there is no assurance that the court will choose to take it up. “As we have previously stated, we plan on taking this case to the Supreme Court, which has an established historical record of protecting Americans’ right to free speech,” the company articulated in a statement. “The voices of over 170 million Americans here in the US and around the world will be silenced on January 19th, 2025 unless the TikTok ban is halted,” highlighting the potential impact of this legal battle on user engagement and free expression.