TikTok Will File Court Challenge to U.S. Divest-or-Ban Law, CEO Says: ‘The Facts and the Constitution Are on Our Side’
As expected, TikTok said it will file a lawsuit seeking to block the U.S.’s legislation — signed into law Wednesday by President Biden — that will ban the app unless its Chinese parent company divests its ownership stake.
In a video on TikTok, CEO Shou Zi Chew responded to the Senate’s passage of the bill Tuesday, as part of a package of foreign aid. He said TikTok will “keep fighting for your rights in the courts” and reiterated his allegation that the effort is an attempt by U.S. lawmakers to ban the app.
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“It’s obviously a disappointing moment but it does not need to be a defining one, ” he said. “It’s actually ironic because the freedom of expression on TikTok reflects the same American values that make the United States a beacon of freedom.”
“Rest assured, we aren’t going anywhere,” Chew said. “The facts and the Constitution are on our side, and we expect to prevail again.” He added, “While we make our case in court, you’ll still be able to enjoy TikTok like you always have.”
TikTok has won legal victories challenging other laws in the U.S. seeking to ban the app on First Amendment grounds. Last December, a federal judge blocked Montana’s first-of-its-kind statewide ban of TikTok, ruling that the law likely violated the First Amendment. An attempt by the Trump administration to force ByteDance to sell TikTok or face a ban also was found unconstitutional by federal courts on First Amendment grounds.
TikTok said in a statement Wednesday, “This unconstitutional law is a TikTok ban, and we will challenge it in court. We believe the facts and the law are clearly on our side, and we will ultimately prevail. The fact is, we have invested billions of dollars to keep U.S. data safe and our platform free from outside influence and manipulation. This ban would devastate seven million businesses and silence 170 million Americans. As we continue to challenge this unconstitutional ban, we will continue investing and innovating to ensure TikTok remains a space where Americans of all walks of life can safely come to share their experiences, find joy and be inspired.”
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