TikTok CEO vows legal fight against US ban: ‘We aren’t going anywhere’

TikTok’s CEO, Shou Zi Chew, took to X on Wednesday (24 April) to reassure US users that the app was “not going anywhere”, following President Joe Biden’s signing of the TikTok sell-or-ban bill into law.

The bill, signed on 24 April 2024, mandates that TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, must sell the platform within nine months or face a nationwide ban in the US.

This legislative move was part of a broader foreign aid package that has passed both chambers of Congress and is awaiting President Biden’s signature, following approval by the United States Senate.

Under the new law, ByteDance has a nine-month window to facilitate the sale of TikTok, with a possible three-month extension at the president’s discretion.

The decision to push for TikTok’s sale stems from concerns over national security, with fears that Chinese government access to user data poses risks to US interests.

In response to the legislation, TikTok has indicated its intention to challenge it legally, setting the stage for potential legal battles as the implementation of the bill unfolds.

It is noted that in 2020, a federal judge intervened to block former President Donald Trump’s attempt to ban TikTok in the US, deeming the executive order “arbitrary and capricious.”

Similarly, in November 2023, another federal judge halted a state law in Montana that aimed to ban TikTok statewide, further bolstering TikTok’s legal standing and resilience in the face of regulatory challenges.

TikTok’s CEO vow legal challenge amid ban concerns

Chew, along with his team, expressed disappointment at the enactment of the bill but affirmed their determination to challenge the ban through legal means.

This resolve was mirrored in an internal memo issued by Michael Beckerman, TikTok’s head of public policy for the Americas, on 20 April, where he pledged to contest the TikTok bill once it was signed into law.

The leaked internal memo, subsequently made public by The Information, highlighted TikTok’s proactive stance in defending its interests.

Chew reiterated TikTok’s confidence in prevailing against the ban, citing legal grounds and alignment with constitutional principles.

He criticized the US government’s decision to ban TikTok as “ironic,” emphasizing that the platform’s commitment to freedom of expression mirrors fundamental 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.”

Highlighting TikTok’s significance as a platform for self-expression, Chew reassured US users that they can continue using the app during the legal battle for their rights.

“The facts and the Constitution are on their side, and we expect to prevail again.”

Addressing concerns about TikTok’s ownership by a Chinese company and its potential implications for US national security, Chew explained that through TikTok’s US Data Security efforts, they have implemented safeguards unparalleled by any other company.

Billions of dollars have been invested to secure user data and maintain the platform’s immunity to external manipulation.

“We’ll keep working to ensure you will have always have the opportunity, the safety, and the freedom, to enjoy all TikTok has to offer,” he stated.

Our CEO Shou Chew's response to the TikTok ban: pic.twitter.com/l0RAPJMobK

— TikTok Policy (@TikTokPolicy) April 24, 2024

TikTok vows to fight US ban, citing constitutional concerns

TikTok, in a parallel move, released its own statement on X (24 April), echoing Chew’s sentiments and denouncing the TikTok ban as an infringement of constitutional rights.

“We firmly believe that both the facts and the law are unequivocally in our favor, and we are confident in our ultimate victory.”

The statement emphasized TikTok’s substantial financial investments aimed at safeguarding US user data and maintaining the platform’s integrity against external interference and manipulation.

The concerns raised by US lawmakers regarding the security of data belonging to TikTok’s vast user base, exceeding 170 million in the US, and the potential for foreign influence operations on the platform, have been at the forefront of the debate surrounding the ban.

TikTok reiterated its commitment to addressing these concerns, stating, “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.”

Our Statement on Enactment of the TikTok Ban:

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.…

— TikTok Policy (@TikTokPolicy) April 24, 2024