The Chinese company Bytedance and its Tiktok video service have filed a lawsuit against the US government to block a law that would ban the Tiktok app in the United States if Bytedance does not sell its operations in the country. The companies have filed their case with the US Court of Appeals in response to the Tiktok Act, which was passed by the US Congress at the end of April and signed by President Joe Biden.
The companies believe that the law violates the US Constitution, specifically the First Amendment’s protection of freedom of speech. They argue that the law imposes a permanent nationwide ban on one platform, which has never been done before. According to their lawsuit, if Bytedance does not sell Tiktok’s operations in US by January 19 of next year, it will be banned from Apple and Google app stores.
Bytedance and Tiktok argue that selling Tiktok’s US operations is not technologically or legally possible and that they are forced to close their operations by January 19, 2025. The companies claim that shutting down the app will silence 170 million Americans who use it for communication.
While concerns about national security risks posed by Tiktok have been raised in the US, administration has stated that their goal is to remove Chinese ownership, not ban it entirely. Bytedance and Tiktok have requested appeals court to issue a ruling barring US Department of Justice from enforcing law and this could escalate all way up to Supreme Court.
The lawsuit implies that Bytedance has no intention of finding a buyer for Tiktok’s US operations within legal deadline. The administration can extend closing period by three months if they show progress in sale process. Ongoing legal dispute between companies and government may require public presentation of classified documents to justify threat of national security.
In conclusion, this legal battle could impact millions of users who rely on social media platforms for communication and entertainment purposes, as well as raise important questions about freedom of speech and national security measures taken by governments around
