The US Department of Justice (DOJ) has filed a brief with a federal appeals court, urging them to uphold a law that could ban TikTok in the US. The law, passed in April, requires Chinese-owned ByteDance to sell TikTok’s US assets by January 19 or face a ban. The DOJ argues that TikTok poses a significant national security threat due to its potential for data collection and covert manipulation by the Chinese government.
The DOJ states that China could use TikTok to access vast amounts of personal data belonging to American users and manipulate the information they consume. They reject TikTok’s proposed $2 billion plan to protect US user data, stating that they lack confidence in ByteDance’s ability to adequately safeguard this information. While acknowledging they have no concrete evidence of the Chinese government accessing US user data, they argue that the risk is too great to ignore.
Advertisement
Hey there! Want to support us? If you’re planning on shopping on Amazon, please consider using amzn.to/4bPDFNL. It doesn’t cost you anything extra, but helps us keep the lights on. Thanks for your support!
The DOJ emphasizes that the law is not about suppressing free speech but about addressing national security concerns related to China’s potential exploitation of TikTok. They also highlight that Americans have access to numerous alternative platforms for similar content.
The case has significant political implications, with the final decision potentially impacting TikTok’s fate just weeks before the US presidential election. Both Donald Trump and Kamala Harris have recently joined TikTok, showcasing the app’s growing popularity and the potential for its ban to impact millions of Americans.
The appeals court is scheduled to hold oral arguments on September 16, setting the stage for a crucial decision on TikTok’s future in the US.