Shou Chew, CEO of China’s TikTok, reacted to the House of Representatives passing legislation that could potentially ban the app in the United States unless ByteDance, the Chinese tech giant, sells the platform within six months. Irony laced his message to U.S. TikTok users as he urged them to “safeguard your constitutional rights.”
“In response to the disappointing vote in the House of Representatives, I wanted to share some thoughts with our U.S. users,” Chew stated in a video uploaded to TikTok.
Our CEO Shou Chew's response to the TikTok ban bill: pic.twitter.com/7AnDYOLD96
— TikTok Policy (@TikTokPolicy) March 13, 2024
This legislation, if enacted, would result in a TikTok ban in the United States, the CEO of TikTok continued.
We will persist in our efforts and advocacy for you, Chew added. We will continue to utilize all available legal means to safeguard this remarkable platform we have collectively developed. We believe we can surmount this challenge together.
Chew, serving as the CEO of a social media platform widely regarded by U.S. lawmakers from both parties as a national security risk — an app also known to pose physical dangers to American children and teenagers — then paradoxically urged Americans to safeguard their constitutional rights.
I urge you to continue sharing your stories, share them with your friends, share them with your family, share them with your senators. Defend your constitutional rights. Let your voices be heard, Chew stated.
As reported by Breitbart News, the bipartisan legislation was overwhelmingly approved by the House of Representatives on Wednesday. The bill will now proceed to the Senate.
Significantly, there is a genuine possibility that the Senate will advance the legislation to President Joe Biden’s desk, given the bipartisan consensus on the matter. Additionally, Biden has already expressed his intention to sign the bill into law.
In the meantime, potential buyers in the U.S. are beginning to express interest.
Earlier this week, it was disclosed that former Activision CEO Bobby Kotick has been presenting proposals to potential investors, including OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, for the acquisition of TikTok from ByteDance, which is subject to the Chinese Communist regime.
On Thursday, former Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin informed CNBC that he, too, is forming an investor consortium in an attempt to acquire the Chinese app.
