In a bold move, TikTok, the popular video-sharing app, declared its intent to wage a legal battle after the US Senate passed a bill that could potentially ban the platform from operating in the United States.
On Wednesday, TikTok, owned by ByteDance, released a statement indicating its readiness to challenge a new law signed by President Joe Biden, which was approved by the Senate on Tuesday. The legislation stipulates that TikTok must divest its US operations within nine months or face a complete ban in the country.
The Senate overwhelmingly voted 79-18 in favor of the package, following a bipartisan passage in the House of Representatives with a vote of 360-58 on Saturday.
At the heart of the matter lies concerns over national security, with the US government alleging that TikTok’s ties to China could compromise the data privacy of millions of Americans. The fear is that Chinese authorities could exploit this data to influence US internal affairs and democratic processes.
However, TikTok vehemently denies these allegations, asserting that it has invested substantial resources to safeguard user data and ensure the platform remains free from external manipulation.
“We believe the facts and the law are clearly on our side, and we will ultimately prevail,” TikTok stated in its response to the bill. The company emphasized the detrimental impact of a potential ban, highlighting its support for millions of businesses and its user base of 170 million Americans.
In addition to addressing the TikTok issue, the bill includes provisions for significant military assistance to Ukraine, Israel, and Indo-Pacific allies, totaling $95 billion.
ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, also refutes claims of being a Chinese entity, pointing out that 60% of its stakes are owned by global investors.
The stage is now set for a legal showdown between TikTok and the US government as both parties stand firm in their positions, setting the scene for a high-stakes battle over data privacy and national security concerns.
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