TikTok, the popular video social networking platform, has taken legal action against the US government by filing a lawsuit with the country’s Court of Appeals. The company alleges that the ban imposed on it by President Joe Biden’s administration is unconstitutional. TikTok’s lawsuit claims that the ban violates Constitutional Article 1 Freedom of Speech, which protects Americans from apps controlled by adversary countries. The ban requires TikTok to be ‘sold’ to an American company before January 19, 2025, failing which it will be permanently closed.
TikTok has argued that the above request is ‘commercially, technologically and legally impossible’ and that it attempted to negotiate with the US government to resolve national security concerns, but no agreement was reached. The company has also denied the US government’s accusations that it poses a threat to national security and has affirmed that it always complies with US law and is committed to protecting user data.
TikTok’s lawsuit is considered a significant move against the US government’s ban, and the court’s handling of this lawsuit may have a far-reaching impact on the future of the platform in the United States. The case has also raised important questions about the government’s role in controlling the internet and freedom of speech. Many users in the US are apprehensive that banning TikTok could lead to tighter government control over their online activities.