Following the US House of Representatives' approval of the TikTok ban bill, CEO Shou Zi Chew warned in a recent video of the harm the ban will cost creators and small businesses that could jeopardize over 300,000 jobs nationwide.
The bill, now in the Senate, will force TikTok to either be sold by its Chinese owner, ByteDance Ltd., or banned in the US
TikTok's Heightened Scrutiny
Since its launch in 2016, TikTok has posed a challenge to platforms like Facebook and Instagram, especially among younger users. It has also come under scrutiny from lawmakers for security and mental health issues.
Last week, Washington lawmakers received numerous calls from constituents after TikTok users urged them to stop a potential ban on the platform, which has an estimated 170 million American users. However, shortly afterward, the measure progressed unanimously through the House Energy and Commerce Committee with a 50-0 vote. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., committed to bringing the bipartisan bill for a vote before the full House within a week.
Chew has consistently defended the app during a heated congressional hearing last March, refuting allegations of providing TikTok user data to Beijing government officials. He outlined plans to store US user data in a Texas-based facility and stated he has not seen any evidence of Chinese officials accessing user data. Chew also emphasized the app's efforts to enhance safety features for younger users, committing to invest two billion dollars in safety initiatives this year. During a Senate Judiciary Committee session in January, Chew emphasized that safety is a fundamental priority for TikTok under his leadership.
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TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew's Call To Save Businesses
Chew's video targets TikTok creators and small businesses, highlighting that a ban would jeopardize their pockets. According to Chew, TikTok matters to small business owners who need to make ends meet, to teachers who inspire students to learn, and to everyone who finds joy on the platform.
Chew firmly opposes the TikTok ban, portraying it as a defense for creators and small businesses, vowing to continue fighting and using legal means to protect the platform.
Chew urged users to share their stories with friends and Senators to pressure the US government against the TikTok ban, encouraging users to protect their constitutional rights and be heard.
Tech Figures Opposing TikTok Ban
Tech figures, including Elon Musk, Mark Cuban, analysts Gene Munster and Dan Ives, have varied opinions on the proposed TikTok ban.
Mark Zuckerberg was dragged into the debate as Trump claimed on Truth Social that banning TikTok would boost Facebook's business, citing, "I don't want Facebook, who cheated in the last Election, doing better. They are a true Enemy of the People!"
Elon Musk, on the other hand, criticized a potential federal ban on the TikTok app, stating that the proposed bill represents "censorship and government control."
