Federal court halts the ban on TikTok in the USA

TikTok content developers (each with at least 1 million followers) sued the US Commerce Department for its ban of the app, claiming that such ban would deprive them of professional opportunities. Federal judge in Pennsylvania has halted the TikTok ban by the US Commerce Department from coming into force on 12 November 2020. This means that the app will stay online and usable in the USA past 12 November 2020, as long as this court decision is not overturned.

The Commerce Department issued a statement that it will ‘comply with the injunction … but intends to vigorously defend the (executive order) and the Secretary’s implementation efforts from legal challenges’.