A group of TikTok influencers has lodged a lawsuit against the US government in response to a legislation potentially banning or forcing the sale of the app in the US. The influencers, who possess millions of followers collectively on the platform, argue that the policy infringes on their First Amendment protecting free speech, as it curtails their ability to share creative content.
These social media personalities believe that a potential TikTok ban or enforced sale could cause significant harm to their personal and professional lives by silencing their primary method of expression. They further claim that these contingencies would largely impact their income, much of which depends on TikTok. They await a court ruling, hopeful for a decision that allows them to continue using the platform unrestricted.
In a similar vein to this legal action, eight well-known TikTok users previously protested the policy issued by President Biden in December. They contend that threatening to ban a platform closely tied to American culture violates their First Amendment rights.
TikTok influencers’ lawsuit over prospective ban
These influencers, alongside national figures heavily reliant on TikTok for sharing ideas, believe this policy could risk freedom of speech and cause substantial digital community disruption.
The litigants, representing substantial segments of the TikTok community, argue that the policy inhibits the free proliferation of ideas and creation and sharing of content on their chosen platform. The enforcement of these restrictive measures has reportedly been detrimental to their digital growth and influence, given a significant drop in viewership and a shift in audience perception.
The lawsuit targets the Act named ‘Protecting Americans from Adversary Controlled Applications’. This legislation has received wide criticism for potentially infringing on the rights of numerous tech companies. President Biden declared last month that ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, is to divest their stake in TikTok within 270 days, or face removal from app stores and hosting providers, thereby leaving TikTok’s 170 million US users without access to the app.
The policy originates from concerns about potential misuse by the Chinese government. ByteDance’s divestment from TikTok could cause the loss of its recommendation engine, responsible for the app’s unique style and community.
Participants in the lawsuit are apprehensive that the proposed ban could lead to the loss of their community connections and income earned via TikTok, a platform they deem singular in promoting individual expression and community engagement compared to other platforms such as Facebook and Instagram.
