TikTok, the main sponsor of this year’s Met gala, is fighting back against a potential ban in the United States by filing a lawsuit against the government. In a court filing on Tuesday, TikTok’s parent company, Bytedance, contends that the U.S. Congress has crossed a constitutional line by singling out and aiming to prohibit the app.
The complaint lodged by Bytedance argues that the a sale of TikTok is unfeasible and would inevitably lead to the platform’s shutdown by January 19th, 2025. It challenges assertions made by individual lawmakers and a congressional committee report, which it claims lack specific evidence of TikTok’s potential misuse.
TikTok’s fate hinges on whether American officials can be convinced that its Chinese ties no longer pose a security threat. However, with over 170 million subscribers in the U.S., any move to ban the app may prove unpopular, particularly among younger voters in upcoming elections.
TikTok rebuffs the idea of selling its app, deeming it neither commercially, technologically, nor legally viable. The platform asserts that it has taken steps to address security concerns, such as segregating U.S. user data and implementing third-party oversight of content recommendations. Yet, a ban would undoubtedly erode TikTok’s user base and advertising revenue, posing significant financial challenges for Bytedance and potentially damaging its reputation and growth prospects.