ByteDance Files Lawsuit Against United States in Effort to Save TikTok; Alleges Ban Violates Constitutional Rights of Users

The parent company of TikTok, ByteDance, has filed a lawsuit against the United States in response to the country’s decision to ban the platform. In their lawsuit, ByteDance argues that the ban is unconstitutional and would force a closure of the platform before January 19, 2025. They also point out that Congress has never enacted a law that subjects a single platform to a permanent nationwide ban, preventing Americans from participating in an online community with millions of users worldwide.

President Joe Biden is expected to sign a law requiring ByteDance to sell TikTok to American companies in order to avoid the ban. However, ByteDance has repeatedly denied these claims and stated that there is no specific evidence to support the concerns raised by Congress about the information collected by TikTok potentially benefiting the Chinese government.

In their lawsuit, ByteDance detailed why they refuse to sell TikTok to American companies, stating that moving millions of lines of code to a new owner would be unfeasible. Additionally, the Chinese government would not allow the sale of TikTok with its algorithm created by ByteDance. TikTok also pointed out that banning their platform in the US would create a separate user experience from the rest of the world, effectively isolating it from international audiences.

As a result of this legal challenge, TikTok has asked the court to rule that President Biden’s actions have violated their rights under United States Constitution. They argue that banning them from operating in America will negatively impact millions of users who rely on them for entertainment and communication purposes.