- TikTok to begin appeal against being sold or banned in US
- Biden signed a law that could see the app banned in the US if it is not sold within 9 months
- US officials believe American users could be exploited by Chinese government
- TikTok denies its app has any ties to Chinese government
TikTok To Begin Appeal Against Being Sold Or Banned In US
TikTok will begin its legal fight on Monday against a US law that could see the app banned unless its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, sells the platform within nine months.
The law, signed by President Biden in April, stems from concerns that data from TikTok’s 170 million US users could be accessed or exploited by the Chinese government. Both TikTok and ByteDance have consistently denied any ties to Chinese authorities, calling the law an “extraordinary intrusion on free speech rights.”
TikTok’s legal team, along with eight content creators who rely on the platform for their businesses, will present their case before a three-judge panel at an appeals court in Washington, DC. These creators, including a Texas rancher and a Tennessee baker, argue that the platform is essential for marketing their products and making a living.
The Department of Justice (DoJ) will follow with its own arguments, citing concerns about data security and the potential for TikTok to be used as a tool for Chinese government propaganda.
Supporters of free speech have voiced opposition to the law, arguing that forcing a sale or banning the app would set a dangerous precedent for authoritarian regimes worldwide. The case touches on broader issues of privacy, security, and First Amendment rights.