TikTok CEO Chew Shou Zi expects to defeat US ban threat: ‘we aren’t going anywhere’
- Chew Shou Zi, chief executive of the popular app, says the platform will continue to operate as it challenges the new legislation in court
- Meanwhile, TikTok Lite has suspended its rewards for views programme amid an EU investigation into addiction risks for users
TikTok’s chief executive said on Wednesday that the company expects to win a legal challenge to block legislation signed into law by US President Joe Biden that he said would ban the popular short video app used by 170 million Americans.
“Rest assured – we aren’t going anywhere,” CEO Chew Shou Zi said in a video posted moments after Biden signed the bill that gives China-based ByteDance 270 days to divest TikTok’s US assets or face a ban. “The facts and the Constitution are on our side and we expect to prevail again.”
Biden’s signing sets a January 19 deadline for a sale – one day before his term is set to expire – but he could extend the deadline by three months if he determines ByteDance is making progress. Biden is seeking a second term against former US president Donald Trump.
In 2020, Trump was blocked by the courts in his bid to ban TikTok and Chinese-owned WeChat, a unit of Tencent, in the United States.
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Chew added: “Make no mistake – this is a ban on TikTok.” He emphasised that TikTok would continue to operate as the company challenges the restrictions.