How can TikTok prevent a ban?

TikTok is gearing up for a legal battle with the US government after President Joe Biden signed into law a bill mandating the social media app’s Chinese parent, ByteDance, to divest its ownership within 270 days or face a nationwide ban.

As a response, shortly after the law came to be, Shou Chew, CEO of the short video-sharing platform said, “The facts and the Constitution are on our side and we expect to prevail,” indicating the legal plans the company has.

What now?
TikTok and its users could go to court challenging the new law on First Amendment grounds, arguing that it infringes on their constitutional right to free expression.

TikTok has 170 million monthly US users. It says the ban could devastate 7 million businesses and shutter a lucrative social media that contributes $24 billion to the economy annually.

The app could use the 90-day extension of the divestiture deadline, potentially pushing any ban into the next presidential term. If Donald Trump wins the election, it could benefit TikTok since he has expressed skepticism about the ban.

If all such moves fail, TikTok still has the Chinese government by its side to block the sale of the app.

As for the government
Legal scholars suggest the government’s strongest argument is that the app threatens national security and jeopardizes American users’ data as it can be shared with China. It maintains accusations that TikTok could be used as a propaganda tool by Beijing.