The TikTok ban's lawsuit is well underway and the most recent development is the US Justice Department asking a federal court to reject the Chinese-owned social media platform's appeal to overturn the law. This was because of the recent discovery of TikTok collecting user data on the platform which centers on controversial and sensitive topics in the country.
It was revealed by the US DOJ that this is a massive security concern regarding the app, and this new issue now stands in TikTok's way to fight the law.
US DOJ Wants Court to Reject TikTok's Appeal on Foreign Adversary Law
As detailed in the latest brief by the US Department of Justice (via Engadget), it now requests the federal court to reject TikTok's appeal regarding the Foreign Adversary law that would turn the odds in their favor. DOJ's request to overturn this bid from TikTok against the law is now rooted in the latest discovery of social media accessing user data.
This move from the Justice Department looks to rid TikTok of its plans to overturn the law and tip the tides in its favor before the hearing begins.
Despite this, TikTok remains confident in its latest statement via X, saying that this appeal from the DOJ does not change its fight against the law, saying that the Constitution is on its side.
TikTok Allegedly Collected User Data on Sensitive Topics
According to the DOJ, TikTok's communication web suite, Lark, recently discovered its search tool to have allowed the collection of bulk user data and information from the app. This includes content or expressions, particularly regarding sensitive topics like abortion, gun control, and religion.
The DOJ believes that through this, sensitive information may be stored on servers in China.
TikTok and the US Foreign Adversary Law
After the US decided on passing the Foreign Adversary law, TikTok decided to go against its upcoming observance of it as it filed a lawsuit that would help block it once it takes effect. Its hearing is already set for September this year, and it would hear what both sides have to say about the law, it was stressed by TikTok that it will not be divested from ByteDance.
Despite the looming ban on TikTok if it does not divest in six months, the social media platform is looking for other options for it to continue its US operations in the future. First off, there will still be no divesting, but the company has thought of a compromise to share its app algorithm with the US, one that would be used in its western operations.
The US Foreign Adversary law determined TikTok as a threat to national security and its citizens, but it is giving the platform an option to divest in six months to continue its operations. However, that is not a choice for TikTok, with the company looking to have this lawsuit as their key to continued operations, but DOJ already found another issue that hurts the social media's case.
