The CEO of TikTok is vowing to fight any potential ban of the social media app, urging users to “protect your constitutional rights” and promising to launch a legal battle if the bill that passed the House of Representatives Wednesday becomes law.
In a video posted to Twitter/X, Shou Chew urged users to share their stories not only with friends and family, but with senators as well. (The last time TikTok tried to mobilize its user base to lobby government officials, it backfired. House officials were inundated with calls from young people, many of whom were unable to vote, and lawmakers said the episode was proof the company could quickly mobile users to “interfere” with government activities.)
“This legislation, if signed into law, will lead to a ban of TikTok in the United States. Even the bill’s sponsors admit that’s 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 would give more power to rival social media companies. And he vowed to use all means at his disposal to prevent a ban from being enacted.
“We will not stop fighting and advocating for you,” Chew said in the video. “We will continue to do all we can including exercising our legal rights to protect this amazing platform that we have built with you.”
The “Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act” passed the House on Wednesday with widespread bipartisan support. Its fate in the Senate is more questionable, though President Joe Biden has said he will sign the bill if it’s passed.
Donald Trump, who first called for the sale of TikTok to a U.S. company and suggested a ban during the last year of his presidency, has recently reversed himself and echoed some of Chew’s comments, including that a TikTok ban would be beneficial for Meta, a company he has had issues with for years.