President Joe Biden signed a national security bill on Wednesday that would force TikTok to be sold by its owner, ByteDance, or face a possible ban in the United States. Minutes later, TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew responded with a video posted on the platform, stating that “rest assured, we're not going anywhere.”
“Make no mistake, this is a ban, a ban on TikTok and a ban on you and your voice,” Chew says in the video. “Politicians may say otherwise. But don't be confused.”
The legislation signed by Biden gives ByteDance nine months to sell TikTok, with a possible three-month extension if the sale goes ahead. It would also prevent ByteDance from controlling TikTok's algorithm, which is credited with helping the app gain popularity.
In his video, Chew suggests free speech will be the company's argument against the ban, saying the bill becoming law is “a disappointing moment, but it doesn't have to be decisive.
“It's really ironic because the freedom of expression on TikTok reflects the same American values that make the United States a beacon of freedom,” he continues. “TikTok gives everyday Americans a powerful way to be seen and heard.”
To that end, Chew also seeks to reassure users that the app isn't going anywhere anytime soon, and rally its users to publicly weigh in on how important TikTok is to them:
“You'll still be able to enjoy TikTok as always, in fact, if you have a story about how TikTok is affecting your life, we'd love for you to share it to show exactly what we're fighting for,” he says. .
With the legislation now in place, it's only a matter of time before TikTok sues to stop it, and the countdown clock has officially begun. As of this writing, barring a court-ordered delay, ByteDance will have until January 24, 2025 to find a buyer or risk having the app deleted from US users.
“We are confident and will continue to fight for your rights in the courts,” Chew says in the video. “The facts and the Constitution are on our side and we expect to prevail.”
This article was originally published by The Hollywood Reporter.
