TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew has stated that the company will challenge a newly implemented US law requiring the platform’s sale from its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, or face a ban in the US. Chew expressed concerns that the legislation’s actual intent is not to change ownership but rather to ban access to TikTok outright.
In March, the US Congress passed a bill calling for TikTok’s sale or block, which was later approved by the Senate and signed into law by President Joe Biden. The law, known as the Protecting Americans From Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, prohibits the distribution, maintenance, or updating of applications under the control of a “foreign adversary,” in this case, China and more specifically ByteDance and TikTok.
TikTok has released a statement on Twitter stating that the new law is unconstitutional and confirming that it will challenge it in US courts. “The fact is, we have invested billions of dollars to keep US data safe and our platform free from outside influence and manipulation,” TikTok said. “This ban would devastate seven million businesses and silence 170 million Americans.”
In a TikTok video, Shou echoed these sentiments and claimed that the real goal of some US lawmakers is not to disconnect China from TikTok but to ban the platform altogether. “That will take TikTok away from you and 170 million Americans who find community and connection on our platform,” Shou said.
Shou emphasized the importance of free expression on TikTok and its alignment with American values. “This is actually ironic, because the freedom of expression on TikTok reflects the same American values that make the United States a beacon of freedom. TikTok gives everyday Americans a powerful way to be seen and heard, and that’s why so many people have made TikTok part of their daily lives. Rest assured, we aren’t going anywhere. We are confident and we will keep fighting for your rights in the courts.”
ByteDance has a year to offload TikTok, and assuming it follows through on its promise to take the whole thing to court, that’ll delay a resolution even further. Other Western countries including the UK, Australia, and Canada are considering TikTok bans of their own, and will almost certainly follow along whatever path the US decides to take.
