The U.S. government has tried hard to remove both TikTok and WeChat from U.S. app stores, citing that they come with potential issues that endanger national security. However, judges seem to have a different opinion.
A US District Judge decided to issue a temporary injunction against the TikTok ban, arguing that there content creators who earn a living with the help of the app. One of the key traits of TikTok is the ability to create and upload short videos on the platform.
Executive order
President Donald Trump signed an executive order which demanded the ban of TikTok in the U.S. unless the parent company agreed to transfer U.S. operations to another company. Published earlier in September, the order notes that TiKTok can steal personal data from U.S. consumers and send it to Chinese authorities.
Judge Beetlesone noted in their ruling that the way in which the U.S. government describes the potential security threats posed by the app is quite hypothetical. As such, there is no proof that would prove that the potential risks are higher than the public interest.
Harm for users
It was also mentioned that banning TikTok in the U.S. would harm the livelihood of many TikTok users, with some of them also being the plaintiffs who asked for the injunction. In the case of a ban, the plaintiffs would lose the ability to interact with their fans and a large number of sponsored deals.
Three TikTok creators were involved in the request for the injunction, and their lawyer saluted the decision, which can be perceived as a victory for free speech. It is also worth noting that the lawyer stated that tbe ban exceeds the authority of the president, even if it is based on the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.
TikTok should be ban by November 12 unless Bytednace manages to divest TikTok activities in the U.S., but another injunction and a delay have been demanded.
