TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew says the company will challenge a recently-signed US law requiring the platform be sold off by Chinese parent company ByteDance or face a block in the US, and warned that the true goal of legislators is not to force a change of ownership but simply to ban access to the service outright.calling for TikTok's sale or block in March, sending it to the Senate, which voted to pass the bill on April 22.
"As we continue to challenge this unconstitutional ban, we will continue investing and innovating to ensure TikTok remains a space where Americans of all walks of life can safely come to share their experiences, find joy, and be inspired.
"That will take TikTok away from you and 170 million Americans who find community and connection on our platform," Shou said.Sign up to get the best content of the week, and great gaming deals, as picked by the editors.Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors "This is actually ironic, because the freedom of expression on TikTok reflects the same American values that make the United States a beacon of freedom. TikTok gives everyday Americans a powerful way to be seen and heard, and that's why so many people have made TikTok part of their daily lives. Rest assured, we aren't going anywhere. We are confident and we will keep fighting for your rights in the courts.
None of which makes Shou wrong: Organizations including the ACLU, the Electronic Frontier Foundation, Fight for the Future, and PEN America have, saying it will"violate the First Amendment rights of Americans across the country" and"set an alarming global precedent for excessive government control over social media platforms."Despite the president signing the bill into law, what happens next remains to be seen.