TikTok CEO Shou Chew has announced that the company will take legal action to remain operational in the United States after President Joe Biden signed a federal ban on Wednesday. The ban includes a nine-month delay, giving ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, the option to sell the app rather than face a complete national ban.
In a two-minute video posted on TikTok’s main corporate account, Chew assured users that TikTok is not going anywhere and emphasized that they will continue to fight for their rights. The video received around 176,000 likes within an hour of being posted.
TikTok has had success in court when faced with potential bans. In 2020, a federal judge blocked an attempt by former President Donald Trump to ban the app in the United States. More recently, in November, a federal judge ruled in favor of content creators who had sued to block a statewide ban on TikTok in Montana. The judge cited infringement on users’ constitutional rights as a reason for his decision.
The ongoing debate over TikTok’s future raises concerns about free speech and social media as well as issues surrounding data security and content manipulation. Proponents of a ban argue that Chinese ownership of the app could compromise user data security and enable Chinese espionage. It is also suggested that China could pressure TikTok to promote its foreign policy objectives by influencing what users see.
TikTok has addressed these concerns by storing data in the United States and refuting claims of promoting propaganda. Despite this, the federal ban signed by Biden on Wednesday is part of a $95 billion national security package that includes aid to countries like Israel, Taiwan, and Ukraine. The outcome of TikTok’s legal battle to remain operational in the United States remains uncertain.