Reactions as TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew Vows to Continue Fight Against U.S. Ban

In a defiant response to a new U.S. law threatening TikTok’s operations, CEO Shou Zi Chew has announced that the company is not backing down and will challenge the ban through legal avenues.

This declaration follows the recent enactment of legislation by President Joe Biden that could potentially prohibit the popular social media platform unless it’s sold to an American entity within a specified timeframe.

In a video message to TikTok users, Chew affirmed, “We will keep fighting for your rights in the courts. The facts and the Constitution are on our side.” He confidently added, “Rest assured, we aren’t going anywhere.”

The recent legislation, included as part of a significant $95 billion foreign aid package, not only provides military support to nations like Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan but also positions TikTok at a critical juncture. According to the law, TikTok has up to nine months to secure a buyer, with a possible extension of three additional months if an acquisition process is underway.

This legal challenge isn’t without precedent. TikTok, owned by Chinese company ByteDance, has been a focal point of scrutiny by U.S. officials for years. Concerns primarily revolve around potential data privacy issues and the risk of Beijing accessing information on U.S. citizens. The app, widely embraced by approximately 170 million Americans, faces accusations of enabling Chinese surveillance.

Jake Sullivan, White House National Security Adviser, articulated the administration’s goal isn’t necessarily to ban TikTok but to eliminate Chinese ownership of the app. He posed critical questions about data security and sovereignty: “Do we want TikTok, as a platform, to be owned by an American company or owned by China?

Do we want the data from TikTok – children’s data, adults’ data – to be going, to be staying here in America or going to China?”The legislation grants President Biden the power to designate any applications as national security threats if they are perceived to be under the control of a hostile nation.