TikTok Prepares Legal Action Against Potential Nationwide Ban, Invites Employees to Town Hall Meeting

TikTok is preparing to take legal action against a potential nationwide ban of the app if Congress passes legislation that could lead to it. In an internal memo obtained by CNN, Michael Beckerman, the head of public policy for the Americas at TikTok, informed employees that they would challenge the bill in court once it is signed by President Joe Biden. The House of Representatives has already passed a foreign aid package that contains language that could lead to a TikTok ban, and the bill might soon pass the Senate as well.

Beckerman referred to the legislation as an “unprecedented deal” between Republican Speaker Mike Johnson and President Biden. He emphasized that this is just the beginning of a long process and invited employees to an internal town hall for further discussion on the issue. The memo was initially reported by The Information, and TikTok has not yet provided any comment on the matter.

The proposed legislation requires TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to sell the app within 270 days or risk it becoming illegal for US app stores to offer TikTok for downloads. President Biden could extend this deadline by another 90 days if progress is made towards a sale. TikTok has already criticized the bill, stating that it violates users’ First Amendment rights, while supporters argue that it is necessary to protect Americans’ personal data.

Legal experts have suggested that TikTok may have a case based on First Amendment considerations. The courts typically evaluate the impacts of laws on Americans’ speech, rather than just the stated intentions, which could play a critical role in any potential legal challenge from TikTok.