Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Threatens Lawsuit Over Potential TikTok Ban

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., an independent presidential candidate, has threatened to sue over a potential U.S. ban on TikTok, arguing that it is unconstitutional and harms American entrepreneurs. This comes despite ByteDance, TikTok's Chinese parent company, refusing to sell the app.

President Biden recently signed a law that gives ByteDance up to a year to sell TikTok or face a ban on operating in the U.S., mentioning national security concerns. The legislation was passed with bipartisan support in Congress. However, ByteDance has publicly stated that it has no plans to sell TikTok and would rather close it down completely in the U.S. than sell it.

TikTok executives are turning to the U.S. legal system to challenge the law, calling it "unconstitutional" and stating that the "facts and the Constitution are on our side." The company claims that TikTok's algorithms are foundational to its business and that separating them from the U.S. assets would be extremely difficult.

The potential TikTok ban has raised concerns among the app's users, including small business owners like Brandon Hurst, whose plant delivery business has flourished on the platform. TikTok claims to host around seven million small businesses, igniting concern over 224,000 American jobs. Analysts suggest that a ban could have significant repercussions for these businesses, as TikTok's unique ability to drive product sales may be difficult to replicate on other platforms.

Why this matters: The fight over TikTok has increased tensions between the U.S. and China, with both countries vowing to protect their economic and national security interests. The outcome of this legal battle could have extensive implications for the future of social media platforms and the role of foreign ownership in the tech industry.

If a ban goes into effect, TikTok would be removed from app stores, but users who already have the app could still use it, though it would not receive updates or security patches over time. Tech-savvy users may also find ways to bypass a ban, such as using a VPN or side-loading the app. The process of implementing a potential ban could take months or even years due to expected legal challenges from TikTok and ByteDance.

Key Takeaways

• RFK Jr. threatens to sue over potential U.S. TikTok ban, calling it unconstitutional.
• Biden signed law giving ByteDance 1 year to sell TikTok or face U.S. ban, citing national security.
• ByteDance refuses to sell TikTok, says it will close the app in U.S. rather than sell.
• TikTok claims ban would harm 7M small businesses, 224K American jobs on the platform.
• Potential TikTok ban raises tensions between U.S. and China, with legal challenges expected.