TikTok is actively rallying millions of American users to oppose a potential U.S. ban on the platform due to national security concerns.
Owned by the Beijing-headquartered Bytedance, the app, with its 170 million American user base, is sending out alerts urging them to “prevent TikTok’s closure.”
The alert declares: “Congress is considering a complete TikTok ban.”
It appeals to its users to take action immediately, warning that government actions could infringe upon the Constitutional right to free expression of 170 million Americans. It also highlights that such a ban would significantly harm numerous businesses and negatively impact the livelihoods of a vast number of creators nationwide.
Additionally, the notification provides a link for users to directly contact the office of their local Congressional Representative.
The alert from TikTok emerges shortly after the White House indicated its backing for a bipartisan bill that could lead to TikTok’s prohibition in the U.S.
This proposed legislation would require Bytedance to divest TikTok or face a total ban. The bill aims to prevent any apps owned by Bytedance from being accessible on U.S. smartphone stores.
A spokesperson for the White House stated that the bill’s intent is to guarantee that TikTok’s ownership is not controlled by entities potentially harmful to the U.S.
This isn’t the first attempt to restrict TikTok in the U.S. Former President Donald Trump also sought to ban the app, but his efforts were hindered by U.S. courts. In Montana, a proposed law to ban TikTok was reversed.
U.S. authorities have consistently expressed concerns that TikTok could be obligated to share data on Americans under Chinese security laws.
TikTok has consistently refuted claims of being a security threat and has invested billions in a project to store U.S. user data domestically.
Despite the White House’s endorsement of this stringent new bill, Joe Biden’s presidential campaign has been leveraging TikTok to engage with younger voters.
This usage comes even though TikTok is prohibited on government phones, a policy put into effect in 2022.
