TikTok knows that it has great strength, which is what its users give it. It has more than 170 million in the United States alone and does not plan to throw in the towel, despite accusations of being a threat to national security as a tool of Chinese espionage.
So this platform filed a lawsuit this Tuesday in the Washington courts against the US Government with the aim of stopping the application of the regulation approved last month, the objective of which is for the Chinese owners of this application to sell it. in the coming months, or its use will be banned.
The lawsuit claims that the so-called “Protecting Americans from Adversarial Controlled Applications Act” violates the constitutional mandate that protects freedom of expression.
Specifically, he describes it as an “unprecedented violation” of the first amendment. President Joe Biden signed the bill into law on April 24.
“For the first time in history, Congress has enacted a law that subjects a single platform to a permanent nationwide ban,” the court document states.
This rule “prohibits Americans from participating in a single online community that has more than 1 billion followers in the world,” TikTok insists in its complaint.
The company argues that invoking national security concerns is not a sufficient reason to restrict free speech. And it places the burden on the federal government to demonstrate that the restriction is justified.
The law, sponsored by lawmakers from both parties, requires ByteDance, TikTok's parent company, to sell the platform within nine months. The final date is January 19, 2025. If the sale is ongoing, the company will have another three months.
ByteDance replied that it has no intention of selling TikTok. But even if it wanted to close its investment in the United States, the company would have to receive the blessing of Xi Jinping's Executive, which rejects the forced sale.
The dispute generated by this social network occurs at a time of tension between Washington and Beijing, especially in areas such as advanced technology, AI and data storage. TikTok has a huge amount of information about Americans.
Several states set precedents in the vetoes, although they remain up in the air due to judicial actions, due to fear of the manipulation of algorithms to alienate users. TikTok responded with aggressive advertising campaigns to emphasize its importance to many people.
There are contradictions. There are politicians, for example, who are against the application, but open an account for the electoral campaign.
This Monday, at the press presentation at the Metropolitan Museum in New York of the fashion exhibition that gives rise to the famous gala, the main row of seats was reserved for TikTok. He is one of the main sponsors. “It is an important way to show how a significant company helps bring one of our major exhibitions to life and also connects us with the audience,” said Max Hollein, director of the Met.
Despite the legal ultimatum, Hollein insisted that TikTok operates legally. “It's a very good way to get involved and involved in American culture as well,” she added.
Where some see spies, others see an opportunity.
