TikTok CEO Announces Legal Action to Stay in US: Battle Over App’s Future Highlights Controversies in Social Media, Data Security and Free Speech

On Wednesday, TikTok CEO Shou Chew announced that the company will be taking legal action to remain in the United States following President Joe Biden’s signing of a federal ban. The ban includes a nine-month delay, allowing TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, the option to sell the app rather than face a national ban.

Chew, who hails from Singapore, expressed confidence in the company’s ability to fight for its rights in court. In a two-minute video posted on TikTok’s main corporate account, he assured users that TikTok is not going anywhere and emphasized that they will continue to fight for their rights. The video received around 176,000 likes within an hour of being posted.

TikTok has had success in the court system when it comes to facing potential bans. In 2020, a federal judge blocked an attempt by former President Donald Trump to ban the app in the United States. More recently, in November, a federal judge ruled in favor of content creators who had sued to block a statewide ban on TikTok in Montana. The judge cited infringement on users’ constitutional rights as a reason for his decision.

The ongoing debate over the future of TikTok concerns issues surrounding free speech and social media but also tackles data security and content manipulation. Proponents of a ban raise concerns about Chinese ownership of the app compromising user data security and enabling Chinese espionage. It is also suggested that China could pressure TikTok to promote its foreign policy objectives by influencing what users see.

TikTok has addressed these concerns by storing data in the United States and refuting claims of promoting propaganda. Despite this, Congress passed legislation that included provisions against Chinese ownership of social media apps operating within U.S borders as part of President Biden’s Executive Order 13945: Promoting Competition in American Industry or Commerce or Combating Unfair Economic Practices Related Thereto issued earlier this year . The outcome of TikTok’s legal battle remains uncertain as they continue with their efforts to stay online while fighting for their rights