US authorities could cite the Indian ban on Chinese social media platform TikTok to build a strong case for similar action in the US, the chief of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Brendan Carr, told India’s major newspaper The Economic Times.
"Rest assured, we aren't going anywhere.”Watch: TikTok CEO vows legal victory against ban threat × ByteDance also said in a statement that it did not have any plan to sell TikTok.
The first amendment vs national securityTikTok is banking on the constitution’s first amendment to pursue a potential ban in the courts of the law.
It protects freedom of speech, the press, assembly, and the right to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
"India’s action on TikTok could very well play a role in the litigation in the US," Carr was quoted as saying by the ET.
US authorities could cite the Indian ban on Chinese social media platform TikTok to build a strong case for similar action in the US, the chief of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Brendan Carr, told India’s major newspaper The Economic Times.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is an independent agency of the United States government that regulates communications by radio, television, wire, satellite, and cable across the country.
USA's TikTok law
Notably, US President Joe Biden signed a bill into law on April 24 that would force TikTok to exit the US if its Chinese owner ByteDance fails to relinquish control over it and disinvest completely.
Now, the matter is highly likely to end up in US courts as TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew stressed last week that the facts and the USA’s constitution were on the company’s side. In a video statement, Chew said, the company isn't going anywhere. "Rest assured, we aren't going anywhere.”
Watch: TikTok CEO vows legal victory against ban threat × ByteDance also said in a statement that it did not have any plan to sell TikTok.
TikTok, which belongs to a nation where there is a heavy restriction on foreign apps and freedom of speech, said on X that the ban in US would "trample the free speech" of millions of Americans.
The first amendment vs national security
TikTok is banking on the constitution’s first amendment to pursue a potential ban in the courts of the law. It protects freedom of speech, the press, assembly, and the right to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
However, many believe the argument won’t work as the matter is related to national security.
"India’s action on TikTok could very well play a role in the litigation in the US," Carr was quoted as saying by the ET.
Also read: Iraqi TikTok star Umm Fahad shot outside her home amid controversy over dancing videos
"Imagine that TikTok is going to argue that this is some sort of unique American obsession with China to foresee threats that don't exist," Carr added.
He also further said that the fact that India banned the app is going to be potentially relevant in some of the court filings "..to show that this is a broad deep concern about TikTok and not simply some unique feature of America's viewpoint on China.”
(With inputs from agencies)
