Watch: TikTok CEO vows to fight US ban

April 25, 2024

TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew is fighting back against a new law that could force the sale of TikTok or see the app banned in the U.S.

Key points:

TikTok’s CEO proclaimed in a video that the legislation is a ban on the platform and an attack on free expression.
The company plans to challenge the new law in court.
TikTok is now asking users to share stories about how the app has impacted their lives.

About the law:

President Joe Biden signed a law on April 24 requiring TikTok’s Chinese parent company ByteDance to divest from the company within 270 days (with a potential 90-day extension).
This divestiture aims to sever ties between TikTok and ByteDance, potentially placing the app under U.S. ownership.
The law restricts ByteDance from controlling TikTok’s algorithm, a key factor in the app’s success.

The details:

TikTok has long maintained that it does not share user data with the Chinese government and that it stores U.S. user data within the country.
“Make no mistake, this is a ban, a ban on TikTok and a ban on you and your voice,” Chew said in a TikTok video.
Chew said the legislation undermines freedom of expression, reflecting the “same American values that make the United States a beacon of freedom.”
He then went on to highlight TikTok’s positive impact and rallied users to share stories “about how TikTok impacts your life.”
Chew said the company would fight back in the courts, stating: “The facts and the Constitution are on our side and we expect to prevail again.”

What’s next:

TikTok is expected to file a lawsuit against the law, citing First Amendment grounds. The app will continue to operate as the company challenges the imposed restrictions until the set Jan. 19 deadline.