ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, has taken legal action in the United States, filing a lawsuit in federal court to challenge a bill signed by President Joe Biden. The bill mandates ByteDance to either sell TikTok or face a ban. Filed in the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, ByteDance argues that the legislation violates several aspects of the US Constitution, notably the First Amendment’s protection of free speech.
President Biden enacted the measure on April 24, setting a deadline of January 19 for ByteDance to divest from TikTok or face potential prohibition. The lawsuit contends that such divestment is impractical from commercial, technological, and legal standpoints. It warns that the enforcement of the legislation will effectively result in TikTok’s shutdown by January 19, 2025, thereby stifling the voices of its 170 million American users, whose unique modes of communication would be irreplaceable.
While the White House has expressed concerns about Chinese ownership for national security reasons, it has not advocated for a TikTok ban. Both the White House and the Justice Department have abstained from commenting on the ongoing legal proceedings.
This legal challenge represents TikTok’s latest effort to navigate the regulatory landscape and resist attempts to curtail its operations in the United States. Competitors such as Snap and Meta are seizing upon TikTok’s regulatory uncertainties to gain a foothold in the advertising market.
The bill, propelled by fears among US lawmakers of potential Chinese espionage through the app, garnered overwhelming support in Congress shortly after its introduction. TikTok has vehemently denied allegations of sharing US user data with the Chinese government, dismissing them as speculative and politically motivated.
