TikTok has taken legal action against the US federal government, arguing that the potential ban on the app violates the First Amendment. President Biden recently signed a bill that requires TikTok and its Chinese owner, Bytedance, to divest ownership of the app or face a nationwide ban. TikTok has filed a lawsuit claiming that this law is unconstitutional and the divesting requirement is not feasible. They argue that such actions could limit Americans’ access to global content and infringe on free speech and individual liberty.
TikTok has not yet commented on the lawsuit. Legal experts believe TikTok has a strong case against the ban, as there is no solid evidence to support claims that the app poses a national security threat. Some suggest that implementing a robust data privacy and security law would be a more effective way to protect US user data than a ban.
Jameel Jaffer, from the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University, believes that TikTok’s challenge to the ban is crucial and expects it to succeed. He emphasizes that the government cannot restrict Americans’ access to foreign media without a compelling reason, which is lacking in this case. The situation is still developing, and updates will be provided as they become available.
