United States Responds to TikTok Lawsuit in Favor of a Ban
- Michele
- 29 August 2024, Thursday
The US Dept. of Justice responded to a lawsuit filed by TikTok regarding the recently passed ban or sale bill. The department favors the US government, viewing TikTok as a threat to the country’s security.
TikTok Ban: Platform Remains in Trouble
2024 has been a turbulent year for TikTok and its users. In March, the US government passed a bill aiming to ban the platform unless its owners are willing to sell it. The decision was made within the scope of geopolitical tensions between the United States and China, with the US considering TikTok a data-related and political threat. The bill has been criticized by those who use the platform for monetary or marketing-related purposes. Additionally, activists argue the ban infringes on freedom of speech and access to information, viewing TikTok as a somewhat more decentralized app than other, US-owned platforms.
In response to the bill, TikTok filed a lawsuit against the US government, citing First Amendment rights. The original document argues that a ban “would allow the government to decide that a company may no longer own and publish the innovative and unique speech platform it created. If Congress can do this, it can circumvent the First Amendment by invoking national security and ordering the publisher of any individual newspaper or website to sell to avoid being shut down.”
This month, the US Department of Justice finally responded to the lawsuit, arguing in favor of the government. As reported by AP News, the department accuses TikTok of “harnessing the capability to gather bulk information on users based on views on divisive social issues like gun control, abortion, and religion.”
Officials say TikTok employees used the internal web-suite system Lark to provide engineers in China with sensitive information about US users. The brief states that “by directing ByteDance or TikTok to covertly manipulate that algorithm, China could for example further its existing malign influence operations and amplify its efforts to undermine trust in our democracy and exacerbate social divisions.” This way, it could also use the algorithm to manipulate public opinion in favor of the Chinese government. Regarding free speech, the US Department of Justice disagrees with the points raised in the lawsuit, further highlighting that the First Amendment does not shield foreign entities.
TikTok ban contextualized
Considering broader geopolitical tensions, concerns about data security and social media’s influence on public opinion are absolutely valid. They also raise numerous questions about the future of our interconnected world and the role of social media, algorithms, and AI in our public and private lives.
One notable, US-related example is a campaign launched by Russia, which aimed to interfere with the 2016 elections and increase social tensions. That said, it is no secret that it has previously manipulated public opinion in other countries and continues to do so. For instance, it recently admitted that it ran a secret anti-vax campaign to undermine China’s vaccination efforts in the Philippines. The campaign contributed to mistrust among vulnerable populations with no regard for its grave impacts.
Such examples highlight the impact of geopolitical animosities on citizens and society as a whole, necessitating a serious conversation on responsibility, accountability, cooperation, and security, both within the US and beyond. Whether a TikTok ban will contribute to ‘fixing’ such issues in any way, shape, or form, is highly questionable.
TikTok is currently preparing for an oral argument, which will take place in September. Until then, its future in the US remains uncertain.
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