- U.S. Magistrate Judge Laurel Beeler won't reverse her decision that prohibits the Justice Department from banning Tencent's (OTCPK:TCEHY,OTCPK:TCTZF) WeChat from U.S. app stores.
- Last week, Judge Beeler said she was unlikely to allow the ban to proceed while the Justice Department appeals the decision.
- The judge said the government's additional evidence of national security concerns didn't change the fact that a ban would violate the free speech rights of Chinese-speaking Americans who rely on the app.
- The Justice Department has also asked the Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals in San Francisco to put the injunction on hold during the appeal.
- Previously: Judge unlikely to allow U.S. to ban WeChat during appeals (Oct. 15 2020)