TikTok CEO Issues Strong Statement In Response To Platform's Ban Bill
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President Joe Biden signed a national security bill on Wednesday morning, mandating TikTok's sale by its owner ByteDance or risking a potential ban in the United States.
Shortly after, TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew posted a response on the social media platform reassuring users that "we aren't going anywhere."
Shou Zi Chew Is Ready To Fight TikTok Ban In Court
Chew opened the minutes-long clip by informing the app's users that Congress passed a bill signed by President Biden.
According to him, the bill is "designed to ban TikTok in the United States," meaning that 170 million Americans will lose access to the "community and connection" found on the platform.
"Make no mistake, this is a ban, a ban on TikTok and a ban on you and your voice. Politicians may say otherwise. But don't get confused, many who sponsored the bill admit that a TikTok ban is their ultimate goal," the CEO stressed.
He hinted that the company will argue for freedom of speech against the ban, claiming that while the bill becoming law is "a disappointing moment," it does not have to define their future. Chew continued saying:
"It's actually ironic because the freedom of expression on TikTok reflects the same American values that make the United States a beacon of freedom. TikTok gives everyday Americans a powerful way to be seen and heard."
The Singaporean entrepreneur also sought to reassure users that the app is not going anywhere soon and encouraged them to share their story "about how TikTok impacts" their lives as a way to "showcase exactly what we're fighting for."
"We are confident, and we will keep fighting for your rights in the courts. The facts and the Constitution are on our side and we expect to prevail," Chew added.
Users Expressed Support For Chew's Determination
Chew's response clip immediately got the app's users' attention, with one person declaring, "Tiktok will not fall, it's a source of happiness to everyone around the world. Let's fight and stand with TikTok."
Following the businessman's instructions to share their TikTok stories, this user disclosed, "Some days, TikTok is the only thing that makes me smile or laugh. My mental health is so much better with the TikTok Community."
Another user similarly claimed, "I love TikTok. I don't know what my life would be like without it. I don't use other platforms in any way. I don't care for any of them. Thank you," and yet another asserted:
"As an American, I've learned a lot more on this app than I have ever anywhere else."
"I found my community on Tiktok. A community that helped me learn that I wasn't alone and that there were people out there that were going through life in similar ways that I was," a fifth TikTok personality chimed in, as a sixth commented:
"It's a shame that Tiktok fights harder for our rights than our own government."
Does The TikTok Ban Have Anything To Do With The Upcoming Elections?
Biden's backing of the bill to compel the app's sale coincides with a noticeable decline in support from younger voters for his campaign.
Aidan Kohn-Murphy, the founder of "TikTok for Biden" nonprofit in 2020, expressed concern that a bill potentially banning the app would be a "total unforced error."
The 20-year-old, who renamed his group "Gen Z for Change" and had not yet endorsed the president for reelection, highlighted the significance of the issue.
Despite this, a Biden adviser stressed his confidence to POLITICO that the campaign would maintain its presence on TikTok, implementing "enhanced security measures" to address potential risks.
The adviser dismissed the notion that young voters would abandon the current U.S. President due to his support for the sale or ban of TikTok, particularly since the sale deadline falls after the November vote.
Chew Initially Promised To Fight To Keep TikTok Running In March
Chew had to whip out his camera just last month after the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Protecting Americans From Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act.
In footage shared via TikTok and viewed by The Blast, he expressed his gratitude to the video app's users for the ongoing support while effusing, "You are what makes TikTok so special."
Elaborating on the company's efforts over the past few years, Chew divulged their investment in safeguarding user data and maintaining a platform free from external manipulation. He had also vowed at the time:
"We will not stop fighting and advocating for you. We will continue to do all we can, including exercising our legal rights to protect this amazing platform that we have built with you."
A TikTok User Recently Said Her Final Goodbyes To TikTok
Amid the chaos, The Blast reported that one TikTok user already shared her goodbye message to the app after watching the live vote on whether to ban TikTok on Saturday, April 20. In her debut and potentially final video on the platform, Katie detailed:
"I just started really reflecting on the past four years that I've been watching TikTok. I've been just a lurker. I don't post, I just watch. But it's meant a lot to me and I wanted to maybe record my first and only video as a thank you."
Katie, who stumbled on the beloved app during the 2020 pandemic explained that she learned that she has ADHD and how to manage the neurodevelopmental disorder from TikTok creators.
"My world is bigger, my view is bigger, and I'm an incredibly different person. I live an incredibly different life, thanks to all you content creators on TikTok," she concluded the video.
The clip seemed to resonate with other TikTok users, garnering 312k likes, 17.4k comments, 17.3k shares, and 30.8k bookmarks.
