The US Supreme Court has upheld a law that mandates TikTok’s China-based parent company to sell its ownership of the app or face a ban, which is scheduled to take effect this Sunday.

The US Supreme Court has ruled against TikTok in its legal challenge to a federal law mandating that the Chinese company owning the popular video app sell it. TikTok, used by 170 million people in the United States, now faces the possibility of being shut down under the law, officially known as the "Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act." The shutdown could take effect as early as Sunday.

If the ban proceeds this Sunday, app stores operated by companies like Google and Apple will no longer be allowed to distribute TikTok. Under the legislation signed into law last April by President Joe Biden after passing Congress, TikTok will be removed from these platforms. While users who have already downloaded the app will likely not be affected initially, new downloads will be prohibited.

TikTok has argued against the ban, claiming that divestment is not a practical solution. The company has indicated it might "go dark" starting Sunday if no resolution is reached.

The Supreme Court justices unanimously ruled that the law does not violate the First Amendment’s protections of free speech. The Court stated that the law’s intent is "content agnostic" and is unrelated to suppressing free expression.

"Congress has determined that divestiture is necessary to address its well-supported national security concerns regarding TikTok's data collection practices and relationship with a foreign adversary," the Court explained in its unsigned opinion.

In response to the ruling, the White House stated that TikTok should remain available to Americans, but under ownership that addresses Congress's national security concerns. "Given the sheer fact of timing, this Administration recognizes that actions to implement the law simply must fall to the next Administration, which takes office on Monday," the statement read.

Media outlets have reported that President-elect Donald Trump may consider issuing an executive order to allow TikTok to continue operations in the U.S. However, it remains uncertain whether such an order would succeed, as it could face legal challenges in court.