On Wednesday, TikTok’s chief executive expressed confidence in overcoming a legal challenge against legislation signed by US President Joe Biden. The law, aimed at banning the popular short video app used by 170 million Americans, mandates China-based ByteDance to divest TikTok’s US assets within 270 days or face a ban. In response, CEO Shou Zi Chew assured users in a video that TikTok is here to stay, citing constitutional support and legal expectations of prevailing against the ban.
Biden's signing sets a Jan. 19 deadline for the sale, extendable by three months if ByteDance shows progress. The ongoing legal battle echoes Trump’s failed attempt to ban TikTok in 2020. Emphasizing that the legislation effectively bans TikTok, Chew pledged the platform's continued operation amid legal challenges.
Concerns over Chinese access to American data led to the bill's bipartisan passage, indicating a broader US-China tech conflict. While TikTok plans to challenge the law on First Amendment grounds, experts suggest it strengthens the Biden administration's position to enforce the ban if ByteDance doesn't comply.
The legislation also empowers the White House to act against other foreign-owned apps deemed security threats, raising concerns about potential First Amendment violations. Despite Biden’s previous restrictions on TikTok for government employees, his re-election campaign intends to maintain a presence on the platform, while Trump's campaign remains absent from TikTok.