TikTok Creators File Lawsuit Against U.S. Government Over Potential Ban

Following the company’s lead, TikTok creators filed their own lawsuit against the U.S. government over a potential ban. The US law has been forcing Chinese parent ByteDance Ltd. to divest itself of the popular video app by January or face a ban.

As per reports, eight creators behind Tuesday’s suit are challenging an ultimatum by the U.S. that addresses national security concerns that the Chinese government could access user data or control what’s seen on the platform. The TikTok creators include a rancher from Texas, a college football coach in North Dakota, a founder of a skincare line in Atlanta, and a Maryland book lover who promotes Black authors on the platform. Ambika Kumar, a lawyer for the creators stated:

“Our clients rely on TikTok to express themselves, learn, and find community. They hope to vindicate not only their First Amendment rights but the rights of the other approximately 170 million Americans who also use TikTok. The ban is a pernicious attack on free speech that is contrary to the nation’s founding principles.”

A Justice Department spokesperson stated that the government is all set to defend the law in court. He said:

Sources claim that ByteDance doesn’t have any intention to find a buyer for TikTok as the January deadline approaches. Rather, ByteDance wants to prove this law unconstitutional. According to the company, it violates the First Amendment and implies an illegal punishment without proper process or a presidential finding.