TikTok sues the US government Over Forcing Sale or Ban

| Updated on 9 May 2024

TikTok sued the US government on Tuesday over a new law that forces its owner to sell the app or face a ban in the US. TikTok is saying that Congress has taken the unprecedented step of expressly signaling out and banning TikTok and calling it unconstitutional. 

The lawsuit reads, “For the first time in history, Congress has enacted a law that subjects a single, named speech platform to a permanent, nationwide ban, and bars every American from participating in a unique online community with more than 1 billion people worldwide.”

Last month US President, Joe Biden, Signed a bill to sell TikTok within a year or face a ban in the country. This was done citing national security concerns regarding the data of millions of Americans. However, the complaint alleges that they have not been able to produce any evidence of the Chinese government misusing the TikTok platform for their gain. 

The lawsuit further states, “Even the statements by individual Members of Congress and a congressional committee report merely indicate concern about the hypothetical possibility that TikTok could be misused in the future, without citing specific evidence — even though the platform has operated prominently in the United States since it was first launched in 2017.”

The company argues that a sale of the app is not feasible for them as they would have to transfer their secret sauce to a new owner. They don’t want to part ways with the software that makes such a popular app around the world. It also adds that the Chinese government would not allow the sale of the TikTok algorithm. 

So, the only option for them is to shut down the app by January 19, 2025. 

Alap Naik Desai

Tech Journalist

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