The United States President has signed a bill to ban TikTok in the country.
Takeaway Points
- The United States President has signed a bill to ban TikTok in the US.
- The Senate first signed the bill to ban TikTok in the US and moved it to the president’s desk, where he is expected to sign it into law.
- TikTok said that the ban would devastate seven million businesses and silence 170 million Americans.
Why did the US want to ban TikTok in the country?
The X Daily News said on Wednesday that President Biden has signed the bill to ban TikTok or sell it. The decision by the US President to sign a bill banning TikTok reflects ongoing concerns over national security and data privacy.
“NEWS: President Biden has signed the TikTok ban or sell bill. TikTok CEO Shou Chew posted a TikTok video in response, saying, “We aren’t going anywhere.” X Daily News said.
On Tuesday, the social media platform posted that the Senate has signed the bill to ban TikTok in the US, and it will be moved to the president’s desk, where he is expected to sign it into law.
TikTok Statement on the Ban
On Wednesday, TikTok responded to the ban on their platform, saying that the ban is unconstitutional and that it will challenge it in court. It said that they have invested billions of dollars to keep U.S. data safe and their platform free from outside influence and manipulation, and that this ban would devastate seven million businesses and silence 170 million Americans.
TikTok added, “As we continue to challenge this unconstitutional ban, we will continue investing and innovating to ensure TikTok remains a space where Americans of all walks of life can safely come to share their experiences, find joy, and be inspired.”
Shou Chew, the CEO of TikTok, made a comment about the ban in a video on TikTok, saying, “Hi, everyone is Shou here, as you may have heard, Congress passed a bill that the president signed into law that is designed to ban TikTok in the United States. That will take TikTok away from you, and 170 million Americans who find community and connection on our platform. Make no mistake, this is a ban. A ban on TikTok and a ban on you and your voice. Politicians may say otherwise, but don’t get confused, many who sponsored the bill admit a TikTok ban is their ultimate goal. It’s obviously a disappointing moment, but it does not need to be a defining one. This is actually ironic, because the freedom of expression on TikTok reflects the same American values that make the United States a beacon of freedom. TikTok gives everyday Americans a powerful way to be seen and heard, and that’s why so many people have made TikTok part of their daily lives. Rest assured, we aren’t going anywhere. We are confident, and we will keep fighting for your rights in the court.” He said.
Shou added, “The facts and the Constitution are on our side, and we expect to prevail again. Our community is filled with people who have found acceptance and compassion, offered inspiration and encouragement, increased their awareness, and broadened their perspectives, ultimately adding more delight and joy to their lives. Our community is also filled with 7 million business owners who have built their livelihoods on TikTok. While we make our case in court, you’ll still be able to enjoy TikTok like you always have. In fact, if you have a story about how TikTok has impacts your life, we’d love for you to share it , to showcase exactly what we are fighting for. Meanwhile, we will continue to invest and innovate to keep our community vibrant, exciting, and safe. Through our US data security efforts, we have built safeguards that no other peer company has made. We have invested billions of dollars to secure your data and keep our platform free from outside manipulation. I can’t say this enough, this extraordinary, diverse community is what makes TikTok so special, what makes it matter and what makes it meaningful. And we will keep working to ensure you will always have the opportunity , the safety, and the freedom to enjoy all TikTok has to offer. Thank you.”
