A US federal court has ruled that ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, must sell its US operations by January 19, 2025, or face a nationwide ban.

The ruling, which aims to address national security concerns over TikTok’s Chinese ownership, is considered a victory for the Justice Department but a major setback for ByteDance.

TikTok has 170 million US users and plans to appeal to the Supreme Court, citing violations of users’ First Amendment rights. US Attorney General Merrick Garland called the ruling an “important step,” while the Chinese Embassy in Washington condemned it as “commercial robbery.”

The decision bars app stores from offering TikTok and hosting services from supporting it post-deadline unless ByteDance complies. President Joe Biden may extend the deadline by 90 days if progress toward a sale is shown. However, President-elect Donald Trump has opposed TikTok, reducing the likelihood of an extension.

TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew expressed disappointment and vowed to continue fighting. Critics, including the ACLU, argue the ban undermines free speech, while the court maintains that ByteDance’s ties to China pose risks of manipulation and data misuse.