ikTok has launched a vigorous legal challenge against a law that could compel it to divest from its parent company, ByteDance, or face a ban on its operations in the U.S. The company argues that the proposed law represents an unprecedented restriction of free speech and is unfairly targeting TikTok without substantial evidence to support claims that it poses national security risks. The law, defended by the Justice Department on the grounds that TikTok could be manipulated by the Chinese government to spread propaganda and gather user data, has garnered criticism from TikTok, which contends that such fears are speculative and unsubstantiated.
As the legal battle unfolds, TikTok maintains that its algorithm, essential for content recommendations, is safely managed by Oracle in the U.S. to mitigate national security concerns. Meanwhile, internal communications revealed that TikTok was close to reaching a security deal with the Biden administration, which ultimately fell through, leading to the ultimatum for divestment instead. TikTok argues that a forced separation from ByteDance is neither practical nor feasible, warning that such a move could lead to the platform’s commercial failure. With the law set to take effect in January 2025, a federal appeals court is scheduled to hear oral arguments on the matter, marking a critical moment in the ongoing dispute.
Source – https://www.npr.org/2024/08/15/nx-s1-5077782/tiktok-survival-filing-ban-approaches
