Shortly after the House passed a bill that could potentially lead to a ban on TikTok in the United States, Shou Chew, the CEO of the company, took to social media to rally users to “protect your constitutional rights.”
Chew hinted at the possibility of TikTok launching a legal challenge if the bill becomes law.
In a video shared on X, Chew assured users, “We will not stop fighting and advocating for you.” He pledged to utilize all available legal means to defend the platform that has been collaboratively built with its users.
Our CEO Shou Chew’s response to the TikTok ban bill: pic.twitter.com/7AnDYOLD96
— TikTok Policy (@TikTokPolicy) March 13, 2024
Chew encouraged TikTok users to share their experiences with friends, family, and senators, emphasizing that the proposed legislation aims to ban TikTok in the United States. He pointed out that even the bill’s sponsors openly admit to this objective.
The bill, dubbed the “Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act,” received bipartisan support in the House shortly after its introduction. If enacted, it would compel ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company based in China, to divest the app to a US entity within six months or face removal from US app stores and web hosting services.
TikTok has previously contested state-level bans, successfully obtaining a temporary injunction against Montana’s ban last year.
Last week, TikTok sent push notifications to its vast user base of over 170 million Americans, urging them to contact their representatives regarding the potential ban.
The notification emphasized the importance of speaking up before the government potentially infringes on Americans’ constitutional rights. However, this initiative led to criticism from lawmakers who perceived it as TikTok attempting to influence the legislative process.
Chew argued that banning TikTok would consolidate power among a few other social media companies.
Former President Donald Trump echoed similar sentiments, suggesting that such a move would bolster Meta, the parent company of Reels, a direct competitor to TikTok.
Chew also highlighted the adverse impact a TikTok ban would have on hundreds of thousands of American jobs, creators, and small businesses, underscoring the platform’s significant economic contribution.
