TikTok has launched a strong counterattack against the U.S. government's recent actions, filing a lawsuit regarding a law that threatens to halt the popular social video platform's operations.
The lawsuit, initiated by TikTok and its parent company Bytedance, argues that the legislation violates the First Amendment by mandating TikTok's divestment, which the company deems unfeasible commercially, technologically, and legally.
The law in question, the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, specifically targets TikTok as a "foreign adversary controlled application," giving the company 270 days from its enactment to sell the app to a U.S. entity or face closure.
TikTok, which boasts 170 million American users, asserts that the Act's implementation would result in the platform's shutdown by January 19, 2025, stifling a unique form of communication for its users.
Despite potential buyers expressing interest in acquiring TikTok, the company has maintained that it is not for sale. Legal experts suggest that while the law primarily targets TikTok, its ramifications could extend to other applications as well.
The legislation was swiftly passed by both the House of Representatives and the Senate in April as part of the National Security Act, which also allocated additional funding to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan.
Concerns have been raised regarding the broad scope of the law, with experts highlighting the potential for abuse by the President's unchecked power to designate other apps as subject to similar restrictions.