Justice Department Warns
The U.S. Justice Department has issued a stark warning about the potential national security risks posed by TikTok Chinese ownership, suggesting that the popular social media platform could be used to covertly influence American elections. This concern was detailed in a court filing late Friday, marking a significant development in the ongoing legal battle over the app’s future in the United States.
Prosecutors argued that TikTok algorithm could be exploited in a “secret manipulation” campaign designed to sway American public opinion for the Chinese government’s benefit. “Allowing a foreign government to illicitly interfere with our political system and political discourse, including our elections, presents an unacceptable threat to national security,” the filing stated. The Justice Department highlighted the possibility that the Chinese government might use TikTok to influence the outcome of critical American elections, deeming this a risk that cannot be tolerated.
This filing was made in response to a federal lawsuit TikTok brought against the U.S. government in May, challenging a law signed by President Joe Biden in April. The law mandates that TikTok must find a new, non-Chinese owner by January 2025 or face a complete ban in the United States. TikTok and its parent company, ByteDance, argue that this law is unconstitutional, claiming it violates the First Amendment rights of its 170 million U.S. users by restricting their access to lawful information and free speech.
TikTok’s legal team emphasized the unprecedented nature of the law, stating that it would, for the first time, subject a single, named social media platform to a permanent, nationwide ban, effectively barring Americans from engaging in a global online community of over one billion users.
The Justice Department, however, contends that the law is not about suppressing free speech but addressing the unique national security concerns tied to TikTok’s connections with the Chinese government.
