Eight TikTok creators have filed a lawsuit against the US government, claiming that the new law that provides for the sale or banning of the app in the country is unconstitutional and violates their rights.
The creators argue that this recently passed law bans an entire medium of communication and infringes on freedom of speech.
The 33-page lawsuit comes a week after TikTok itself filed a lawsuit against the federal government, again alleging an unconstitutional law.
Last month, the US government signed a law that says TikTok will stop being used in the country if its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, does not sell its stake.
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The creators' lawsuit, filed Tuesday, describes TikTok as a critical "part of American life."
The creators involved in the lawsuit come from a variety of states and backgrounds . As the lawsuit states , all eight TikTokers “ are able to make their voices heard, have amassed significant audiences, made new friends, and discovered new and different ways of thinking because of TikTok’s innovative way of hosting, curating, and disseminating discourse .”
The eight creators are as follows:
- Brian Firebaugh: rancher in rural Texas
- Chloe Joy Sexton: Tennessee baker who owns a cookie business
- Talia Cadet: book critic in the DC area.
- Timothy Martin: college football coach in North Dakota
- Kiera Spann: political activist in North Carolina
- Paul Tran: founder of a skincare brand in Georgia
- Topher Townsend: Mississippi-based rapper
- Steven King: Arizona-based comedy creator
The ban “threatens to deprive them, and the rest of the country, of this distinctive means of expression and communication,” the lawsuit states.
Creators suggest that a TikTok ban could also threaten their livelihoods, given that content creation is a job for many people. The lawsuit states that all of the plaintiffs “ tried to use other social media apps, with much less success .”
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Sexton, for example, started making videos on TikTok after losing her job in 2020 and now has more than 2.2 million followers, according to the lawsuit. She started a cookie company and published a cookbook as a result of her success on the app.
“Losing the platform would be a loss not only of my income, but also of the most effective means of connecting with people around the world,” she said in a statement. “I am proud to be part of this lawsuit and support everyone who relies on TikTok like I do.”
In general, the TikTok community has expressed strong concern and disappointment about the potential ban of the app in the United States. TikTok is a major part of their social and entertainment lives, so their daily lives will be significantly affected.
The TikTok community has organized various campaigns on social media to express their opposition to the potential ban. Users and content creators are trying to raise awareness and pressure the authorities to reconsider their decision.
Most express concern about freedom of expression and access to information. They consider the ban on TikTok to be a form of censorship and restriction of freedom on the internet. There is also concern about the technical and practical consequences of the ban. Many users wonder what will happen to their existing content and whether they will be able to transfer it to other platforms.
See also: TikTok may be banned in Europe outside the US
TikTok has 170 million American users, but has been under scrutiny for several years. US authorities believe the platform is controlled by the Chinese government and is therefore considered a threat to US national security. China is believed to have access to data of American citizens.
TikTok has denied the allegations multiple times and says that citing national security is not sufficient reason to restrict free speech.
The Ministry of Justice defended the legislation
“ This legislation addresses critical national security in a manner consistent with the First Amendment and other constitutional limitations issues ,” a Justice Department spokesperson said . “ We look forward to defending the legislation in court .”
Source: www.nbcnews.com
