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TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew Confident in Defeating US Ban Threat: "We Aren't Going Anywhere"
TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew is confident in overcoming the US ban threat. The recently signed legislation gives ByteDance 270 days to divest TikTok's US assets or face a ban. TikTok plans to challenge the bill on First Amendment grounds.
In a bold statement, TikTok's CEO, Shou Zi Chew, expressed his confidence in the company's ability to overcome the legal challenge posed by the recently signed legislation by US President Joe Biden. The legislation aims to ban the popular short video app, which is used by a staggering 170 million Americans.
Chew reassured TikTok users in a video posted shortly after the bill was signed, stating, "Rest assured – we aren't going anywhere." He firmly believes that the facts and the Constitution are on their side, and they expect to prevail once again.
The bill sets a deadline of January 19 for ByteDance, the China-based parent company of TikTok, to divest its US assets or face a ban. However, President Biden has the authority to extend the deadline by three months if he deems progress is being made. This decision comes as Biden prepares for a potential second term against former President Donald Trump.
It is worth noting that Trump's previous attempts to ban TikTok and Chinese-owned WeChat were blocked by the courts in 2020. Chew emphasised that this legislation is indeed a ban on TikTok, but the company will continue to operate while challenging the imposed restrictions.
The concerns surrounding TikTok stem from fears that China could access Americans' data or conduct surveillance through the app. These worries prompted the bill's overwhelming approval by the US Senate on Tuesday, followed by the US House of Representatives on Saturday.
The battle over TikTok has become a significant front in the ongoing technology and internet war between Washington and Beijing. Just last week, Apple was ordered by China to remove Meta Platforms' WhatsApp and Threads from its App Store due to Chinese national security concerns.
TikTok plans to challenge the bill on First Amendment grounds, and it is expected that TikTok users will also take legal action. In November, a US judge in Montana blocked a state ban on TikTok, citing free speech as the basis for the decision.
While the American Civil Liberties Union warns that banning or requiring divestiture of TikTok could set a dangerous precedent for government control over social media platforms, experts believe that this new legislation will provide the Biden administration with a stronger legal footing to ban TikTok if ByteDance fails to comply.
If ByteDance does not divest TikTok, major app stores like Apple and Google would be prohibited from offering TikTok or providing web hosting services to ByteDance-controlled applications or TikTok's website. Additionally, the bill grants the White House new tools to ban or force the sale of other foreign-owned apps deemed as security threats.
As the debate over TikTok's future intensifies, young Americans are addressing their concerns about potential bias and the implications of a ban. Democratic Senator Ron Wyden has expressed worries about the bill's broad authority and its potential violation of Americans' First Amendment rights.
While President Biden's re-election campaign plans to continue using TikTok, Trump's campaign has not joined the platform. TikTok is also facing pressure in the European Union, as it recently suspended a feature in its TikTok Lite app in France and Spain following an EU probe into potential risks.
TikTok remains steadfast in its commitment to addressing the concerns raised by regulators while continuing to provide a platform for users to create and share content.
TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew is confident in overcoming the US ban threat.
The recently signed legislation gives ByteDance 270 days to divest TikTok's US assets or face a ban.
TikTok plans to challenge the bill on First Amendment grounds.
Source: SCMP