TikTok sues US government over ban threat

TikTok and its parent company ByteDance have taken legal action against the U.S. government, filing a lawsuit in federal court to challenge a law signed by President Joe Biden that mandates the divestiture of TikTok or threatens to ban its use by Americans.

The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, argues that the law infringes upon several provisions of the U.S. Constitution, including violating First Amendment free speech protections.

The law, signed by President Biden on April 24, sets a deadline of January 19 for ByteDance to sell TikTok or face a potential nationwide ban.

TikTok and ByteDance contend that this law is unprecedented in singling out a specific platform for a permanent nationwide ban.

In their lawsuit, the companies state that complying with the divestiture requirement is not feasible due to commercial, technological, and legal challenges.

They assert that if the law is enforced, it will effectively lead to the shutdown of TikTok by January 19, 2025, thereby silencing the 170 million Americans who use the platform for communication.

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TikTok’s legal challenge is part of its ongoing efforts to fend off regulatory actions in the United States amid political uncertainty surrounding the app. Concerns among U.S. lawmakers about data security and potential Chinese government access have fueled legislative efforts to restrict TikTok’s operations in the country.

TikTok has consistently denied allegations of data sharing with the Chinese government and has implemented significant measures, including spending $2 billion on data protection measures for U.S. users.

Additionally, the company entered into negotiations with the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) and drafted a 90-page National Security Agreement to address security concerns.

However, according to the lawsuit, discussions with CFIUS stalled in 2022, leading to a demand for ByteDance to divest its U.S. TikTok business by March 2023. The lawsuit seeks to block U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland from enforcing the law and requests injunctive relief from the court.

President Biden has the authority to extend the January 19 deadline by three months if ByteDance demonstrates progress toward compliance.

Notably, the legal battle over TikTok has been ongoing since former President Donald Trump attempted to ban the app in 2020, a move that was challenged and blocked by the courts.

The conflict surrounding TikTok reflects broader tensions between the United States and China over technology and national security issues.

This legal dispute underscores the complexities of regulating multinational technology companies and balancing security concerns with economic and diplomatic considerations.