USA (Washington Insider Magazine)— TikTok has filed a lawsuit in a District of Columbia court to block a rule that might result in a statewide ban of the popular social media app following through on legal threats the company issued after President Joe Biden signed the legislation last month.
Congressional Approval Sparks Legal Battle
The move comes after warnings issued by the company in April, following the approval of a law by the US Congress. This law mandates ByteDance, the Chinese tech conglomerate that owns TikTok, to sell off the app’s North American operations or face a ban.
Unprecedented Targeting of TikTok
According to Canal26, In its lawsuit, TikTok highlights the unprecedented nature of the law, which specifically targets the app, claiming it as a platform for protected expression used by millions of Americans. The law, dubbed the ‘Protect Americans from Apps Controlled by Foreign Adversaries Act’, sets a deadline of January 19, 2025, for TikTok to cease operations in the US.
TikTok’s Defense and Commitment
TikTok defends its security safeguards, claiming that company has invested enormous resources to protect American users’ data and retain independence from outside influences. The company promises to continue investing in innovation to provide a safe environment for users.
Historical Context and Previous Attempts
During the Trump administration, many efforts were exerted to force the sale of TikTok’s US business, but legal challenges obstacle the process, citing national security concerns. Previously, Microsoft showed interest in purchasing TikTok, and US Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin claimed to have a consortium of investors ready to bid on the social network.
