KUALA LUMPUR – TikTok is fighting back after the US House of Representatives passed legislation that forces China-based ByteDance to divest its stake in the app, saying a potential ban will take away billions of dollars from content creators and small businesses as well as putting more than 300,000 American jobs at risk.
TikTok CEO Chew Shou Zi in a video message also urged users to “protect your constitutional rights” and “make your voices heard”.
“Over the last few years, we have invested to keep your data safe and all platforms free from outside manipulation. This legislation, if signed into law, will lead to a ban of TikTok in the US.
“Even the bill sponsors admit that’s their goal, this bill gives more power to a handful of other social media companies.
“We will not stop fighting and advocating for you. We will continue to do all we can, including exercising our legal rights to protect this amazing platform that we have built with you. We believe we can overcome this together.”
He added that TikTok is a platform for 170 million users to freely express themselves and empowered more than seven million businesses in the US.
@tiktok Response to TikTok Ban Bill
♬ original sound – TikTok
The 352-65 vote yesterday reflected widespread worries about potential security threats linked to the Chinese government.
Despite TikTok’s consistent denial of being a spying tool for the Chinese government, FBI director Christopher Wray emphasised concerns about data control and the potential compromise of American devices through the app’s software.
China’s Commerce Ministry opposed the forced sale of TikTok, accusing the US of running a disinformation campaign against ByteDance.
The bill now heads to the Senate, where its fate remains uncertain.
Past attempts to ban TikTok faced obstacles related to free speech, legal challenges, and disagreements on platform regulation.
The legislation is not a straightforward ban but rather the creation of a process allowing the president, through intelligence agencies, to designate social media applications controlled by foreign adversaries as national security threats.
Once designated, the app would be banned from online platforms unless it severed ties with foreign-controlled entities within 180 days. – March 14, 2024