The U.S. government is trying to ban TikTok over concerns that it could be used by the Chinese government to influence Americans. Three studies cited in court documents and testimony suggest that the platform is biased in favor of Chinese government views. This has sparked bipartisan action in Congress, leading to passing a bill that would require ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, to sell the app within 270 days. If they fail to do so, a ban would be imposed. Arguments from both sides will be heard in court soon.
The studies indicate that TikTok suppresses anti-China content compared to other social media platforms. There are concerns that TikTok’s algorithm could be manipulated by the Chinese government to shape content for malign purposes. Meanwhile, TikTok argues that the information collected is similar to other popular apps and denies cooperating with the Chinese government to manipulate content.
An ownership analysis of ByteDance shows a Chinese government stake that gives significant influence to government entities. The company’s CEO denies any affiliation with the Chinese Communist Party, while emphasizing that international companies must follow local laws and regulations. TikTok’s legal team has focused on defending free speech and First Amendment rights, arguing against a ban that would suppress speech in any form. The arguments are set to be presented before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, potentially leading to a Supreme Court decision.
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