The CEO of TikTok calls on users to fight the US ban

TikTok CEO Xu Qiu claimed that banning the social media platform in the United States would put the livelihoods of thousands of Americans at risk.

Chiu's comments came in the wake of the House of Representatives issuing a bill, on Wednesday, that could force ByteDance, the Chinese company that owns TikTok, to sell the platform or ban it in the United States.

Once the Senate approves the bill, President Joe Biden said he will ratify it into law.

Chiu, in response to the House vote, described the decision as "disappointing" and warned of its consequences.

“If this legislation is passed into law, it will lead to TikTok being banned in the United States,” Chiu said in a video clip posted on X. “Even the sponsors of the bill admit that this is their goal. This bill gives more power to a few.” From other social media companies.

He added: “Our platform is important for small business owners who rely on TikTok to make ends meet, for teachers who inspire millions of students to learn, and for everyone who discovers and finds joy in TikTok. You will put more than 300,000 American jobs at risk.”

Chiu explained that TikTok would exercise its “legal rights” to prevent the ban, and urged users to support its efforts.

“I encourage you to continue to share your stories with your friends and family, share them with your senators, protect your constitutional rights, and make your voice heard,” he said.

Notably, the bill, led by House Select Committee on China Chairman Mike Gallagher and Ranking Member Raja Krishnamurthy, portrays TikTok as a “national security threat” due to ByteDance’s alleged ties to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

While TikTok is the only app specifically mentioned in the document, it creates a framework for Washington, D.C., to ban other platforms controlled by countries it considers "foreign adversaries."