TikTok CEO promises to combat any potential Social media app banurges users to “protect their constitutional rights” and promises to pursue litigation if the law is passed passes the House of Representatives Wednesday becomes law.
In one Video Posted on Twitter/X, Shou Chew urged users to share their stories not only with friends and family, but also with senators. (The last time TikTok tried to mobilize its user base to lobby government officials, it failed. House officials did flooded with calls of young people, many of whom could not vote, and lawmakers said the incident was evidence that the company could quickly “interfere” with cellphone users in government activities.)
“If this law goes into effect, it will result in a ban on TikTok in the United States. Even the bill’s supporters admit this is their goal,” Chew said in the video. “We know how important TikTok is to all of you. …Protect your constitutional rights. Make your voices heard. Love you all.”
Chew said a ban on the platform would put 300,000 American jobs at risk and give rival social media companies more power. And he promised to use every means at his disposal to prevent a ban from being passed.
“We will not stop fighting and advocating for you,” Chew said in the video. “We will continue to do everything we can, including exercising our legal rights, to protect this amazing platform we have built with you.”
The Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act passed the House of Representatives on Wednesday with broad bipartisan support. His fate in the Senate is more questionablealthough President Joe Biden has said he will sign the bill if it is passed.
Donald Trump, who first called for TikTok to be sold to a US company and proposed a ban in the final year of his presidency, recently made an about-face and adopted some of Chew’s comments, including that a TikTok ban would be beneficial for Meta, a company he has had problems with for years.