TikTok’s ongoing struggle to maintain its operations in the U.S. hit a critical moment in federal court as the social media giant defended its right to operate without government interference. The U.S. government is pushing for a forced sale of TikTok from its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, or a potential ban, citing national security concerns.

During a hearing at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, TikTok’s legal team argued that national security fears should not outweigh the free speech rights of its 170 million American users. Andrew Pincus, representing TikTok and ByteDance, emphasized First Amendment rights, stating that allowing a foreign-owned platform to share political and social content had never been a reason for censorship in U.S. history.

However, Judge Neomi Rao questioned the validity of the free speech argument, noting that a sale of ByteDance wouldn’t prevent it from expressing opinions in the U.S.

Legal experts suggest the outcome of the case remains uncertain, with the court challenging both sides equally. The case’s resolution could have far-reaching implications for free speech, national security, and international business operations in the tech sector.