TikTok CEO Shou Chew has urged users to safeguard their constitutional rights shortly after the House approved a bill that could ban TikTok in the United States. Chew also hinted at TikTok's intention to legally challenge the bill if it becomes law.
"We will not stop fighting and advocating for you. We will continue to do all we can including exercising our legal rights to protect this amazing platform that we have built with you," Chew said in a video posted on X.
"I encourage you to keep sharing your stories, share them with your friends, share them with your family, share them with your senators. Protect your constitutional rights. Make your voices heard," he added.
US House Approves Bill that Could Ban TikTok in the US
Chew has also expressed concerns that the bill, if enacted, would result in a ban of TikTok in the US, echoing the intentions stated by its sponsors.
The bill, titled the "Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act," garnered bipartisan support in the House shortly after its introduction.
If passed into law, the bill would compel ByteDance, TikTok's parent company based in China, to sell TikTok to a US entity within six months or face removal from US app stores and web hosting services.
Last week, TikTok took the initiative to notify its more than 170 million US users, urging them to contact their representatives regarding the potential ban. The notifications stirred controversy, with lawmakers criticizing TikTok for what they perceived as interference in the legislative process.
Chew argued against the ban, saying it would only consolidate power among a few dominant social media companies. This sentiment was echoed by former President Donald Trump, who previously attempted to compel ByteDance to divest TikTok's US operations.
The House passed the bill on Wednesday, with 352 lawmakers voting in favor and 65 opposed. Supporters of the bill emphasized that the goal is not to eliminate TikTok but to prevent a Chinese firm from having access to a large amount of American data, thus posing a national security threat to the US.
Joe Biden Supports the TokTok Ban Bill
President Joe Biden's expressed willingness to sign the bill has boosted its prospects, although its fate hinges on the Senate's deliberation on legality and free speech issues.
Despite being incorporated in the US, TikTok's affiliation with ByteDance has raised apprehensions about potential exploitation by the Chinese government. Data security and the risk of foreign influence are central considerations in the legislative debate.
US lawmakers remain skeptical of TikTok's assurances regarding the protection of American user data from Chinese access. While the primary objective of the legislation is to compel TikTok's separation from ByteDance, the company argued that the bill's underlying objective is a complete ban on its operations in the US.
Last year, legislators initiated measures to enhance federal oversight of TikTok and other apps associated with US adversaries, drawing criticism for potential infringements on free speech rights.
However, the landscape shifted significantly last week with the introduction of new legislation targeting TikTok by leaders of key House committees.
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