US DOJ pushes for TikTok to divest U.S. assets by Jan. 19.

From Investing.com: 2024-07-27 00:35:39

The Department of Justice urges appeals court to uphold law requiring ByteDance to divest TikTok’s U.S. assets by Jan. 19 or face ban, citing national security concerns over data collection and covert content manipulation by China. TikTok creators and parent company file suits to block law affecting 170 million Americans.

Arguments outlined in DOJ filing detail national security concerns about ByteDance’s ownership of TikTok, warning of China’s geopolitical strategy to deploy assets at opportune moments. Classified document with additional security concerns and declarations from FBI, Office of the Director of National Intelligence, and Justice Department’s National Security Division to be filed.

Justice Department asserts TikTok under Chinese ownership poses serious national security threat due to access to vast personal data of Americans. Law signed by President Biden in April gives ByteDance until Jan. 19 to sell TikTok. U.S. Court of Appeals to hold oral arguments on challenge on Sept. 16, impacting 2024 presidential election.

U.S. government rejects TikTok’s arguments, including violation of First Amendment rights, stating law addresses national security not speech. Concerns raised over TikTok’s insufficient efforts to protect U.S. user data. Law prohibits app stores and internet hosting services from supporting TikTok unless divested by ByteDance, passed due to fears of China accessing American data.



Read more at Investing.com: US DOJ tells court to reject TikTok challenge to crackdown law By Reuters