The popular short video company said the law is 'obviously unconstitutional'. AP
The popular short video company said the law is 'obviously unconstitutional'. AP
The popular short video company said the law is 'obviously unconstitutional'. AP
The popular short video company said the law is 'obviously unconstitutional'. AP

TikTok sues US government over potential ban, citing First Amendment


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TikTok is suing the US government over a new law that will force its Chinese parent company ByteDance to divest the popular video app or face a ban across the country, which it says would breach First Amendment rights.

The lawsuit marks the first legal challenge since Congress passed the law in April, with TikTok saying the legislation will stifle free speech and hurt creators and small business owners who benefit from the platform, in breach of their rights enshrined in the First Amendment to the US Constitution.

The company previously said it has spent more than $1.5 billion to isolate its US operations and agreed to oversight by American company Oracle, Bloomberg reported.

“For the first time in history, Congress has enacted a law that subjects a single, named speech platform to a permanent, nationwide ban and bars every American from participating in a unique online community with more than one billion people worldwide,” the company said in a filing on Tuesday with the US Court of Appeals in Washington.

The popular short video company alleged the law is so “obviously unconstitutional” that the sponsors of the Protecting Americans From Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act are trying to portray it not as a ban but as a regulation of TikTok's ownership.

ByteDance has nine months to sell the platform but the company said it has no plans to sell, according to the Associated Press.

The legal battle comes after President Joe Biden signed into law a Ukraine-Israel aid package that includes the TikTok provision.

Explained: The battle over TikTok's future in America – video

The President signed the law despite his re-election campaign using the platform for reach younger voters.

Former president Donald Trump used an executive order to try to force a sale of the app to an American company or face a ban but his administration also faced legal challenges and judges blocked it from taking place.

“There is no question: the act will force a shutdown of TikTok by January 19, 2025, silencing the 170 million Americans who use the platform to communicate in ways that cannot be replicated elsewhere,” the company said.

TikTok chief executive Shou Chew said in a video on the app the day the bill was signed: “Make no mistake, this is a ban, a ban on you and your voice.

“Politicians may say otherwise but don’t get confused. Many who signed the bill say the TikTok ban is the ultimate goal.”

The fight over TikTok takes place as US-China relations have shifted to that of intense strategic rivalry, especially in areas such as advanced technology and data security, seen as essential to each country’s economic prowess and national security.

Politicians from both US parties, as well as administration and law enforcement officials, have expressed concerns that Chinese authorities could force ByteDance to hand over user data or sway public opinion by manipulating the algorithm that populates users' feeds.

Meanwhile, TikTok and other platforms have been hit with hundreds of lawsuits blaming them for young people becoming addicting to social media and causing mental distress.

Montana became the first US state to enact a law that would ban residents from using the app. In December, a federal judge sympathised with TikTok’s free speech argument in blocking the Montana measure while the legal challenge plays out.

Timeline

2012-2015

The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East

May 2017

The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts

September 2021

Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act

October 2021

Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence 

December 2024

Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group

May 2025

The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan

July 2025

The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan

August 2025

Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision

October 2025

Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange

November 2025

180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE

Most match wins on clay

Guillermo Vilas - 659

Manuel Orantes - 501

Thomas Muster - 422

Rafael Nadal - 399 *

Jose Higueras - 378

Eddie Dibbs - 370

Ilie Nastase - 338

Carlos Moya - 337

Ivan Lendl - 329

Andres Gomez - 322

The biog

Nickname: Mama Nadia to children, staff and parents

Education: Bachelors degree in English Literature with Social work from UAE University

As a child: Kept sweets on the window sill for workers, set aside money to pay for education of needy families

Holidays: Spends most of her days off at Senses often with her family who describe the centre as part of their life too

If you go...

Etihad flies daily from Abu Dhabi to Zurich, with fares starting from Dh2,807 return. Frequent high speed trains between Zurich and Vienna make stops at St. Anton.

Reputation

Taylor Swift

(Big Machine Records)

The specs

Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors

Power: Combined output 920hp

Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic

Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km

On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025

Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000

The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting 

2. Prayer 

3. Hajj 

4. Shahada 

5. Zakat 

The National Archives, Abu Dhabi

Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.

Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en

Heather, the Totality
Matthew Weiner,
Canongate 

MATCH INFO

Argentina 47 (Tries: Sanchez, Tuculet (2), Mallia (2), De La Fuente, Bertranou; Cons: Sanchez 5, Urdapilleta)

United States 17 (Tries: Scully (2), Lasike; Cons: MacGinty)

RESULTS

6.30pm: Meydan Sprint Group 2 US$175,000 1,000m
Winner: Ertijaal, Jim Crowley (jockey), Ali Rashid Al Raihe (trainer)

7.05pm: Handicap $60,000 1,400m
Winner: Secret Ambition, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar

7.40pm: Handicap $160,000 1,400m
Winner: Raven’s Corner, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar

8.15pm: Dubai Millennium Stakes Group 3 $200,000 2,000m
Winner: Folkswood, William Buick, Charlie Appleby

8.50pm: Zabeel Mile Group 2 $250,000 1,600m
Winner: Janoobi, Jim Crowley, Mike de Kock

9.25pm: Handicap $125,000 1,600m
Winner: Capezzano, Mickael Barzalona, Salem bin Ghadayer

First Person
Richard Flanagan
Chatto & Windus 

The specs

Engine 60kwh FWD

Battery Rimac 120kwh Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide (LiNiMnCoO2) chemistry

Power 204hp Torque 360Nm

Price, base / as tested Dh174,500 

Test

Director: S Sashikanth

Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan

Star rating: 2/5

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Updated: May 07, 2024, 6:05 PM