Soon after that, the US House of Representatives banned TikTok, with the company's CEO, Shou Chu, calling on users to "defend their constitutional rights." Chu also hinted that TikTok would file a lawsuit if the bill is finally adopted.
"We will not stop fighting to protect you," Chu said in a video posted on X (Twitter). "We will continue to do everything possible, including using our legal rights, to protect this wonderful platform that we have created together with you."
Our CEO Shou Chew's response to the TikTok ban bill: pic.twitter.com/7AnDYOLD96
— TikTok Policy (@TikTokPolicy) March 13, 2024
He also asked TikTok users in the US to share their stories with friends, family, and senators.
"If this bill becomes law, it will lead to a ban on TikTok in the United States," Chu said. "Even the authors of the bill recognize that this is their goal."
The bill, known as the "American Apps Protection Act Against Foreign Adversaries," was passed by the House of Representatives with bipartisan support just days after its introduction. If the bill is finally adopted, it will force the Chinese parent company of TikTok ByteDance to sell TikTok to an American company within 6 months or block access to app stores and web hosting in the US.
In his address, Chu said that banning TikTok would give "more power to a few other social media companies."
Earlier, TikTok challenged state bans. Last year, TikTok filed a lawsuit against Montana, which banned the app in the state. A federal judge temporarily blocked the ban in November before it took effect.
Last week, TikTok sent push notifications to over 170 million users of the app in the US, urging them to call their representatives regarding the potential ban. The wave of notifications led to House staff being flooded with calls from high school students asking what a "congressman" is. Lawmakers criticized the company for allegedly trying to "interfere" in the legislative process.
Source: Engadget
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