TikTok Accuses Biden Admin of Political Prejudice for Pushing US App Ban

TikTok accused the White Houe of exhibiting political prejudice during negotiations as it continues to push the looming nationwide ban on the app.

In the court filing presented on Thursday, TikTok disclosed that it had sent a letter to the Justice Department accusing the administration of engaging in "political demagoguery" for still pushing the ban despite knowing a more feasible option.

The letter came following supposed failed negotiations after TikTok proposed its 90-page draft agreement in 2022 to resolve national security concerns rather than force a divestment from its parent company.

TikTok Proposes a 'Kill Switch' on the App

The draft agreement includes the DOJ's Committee on Foreign Investment to require the platform to better user data safeguards and a "kill switch" to suspend its operations in the US in case of data leakage.

The company alleged that the Justice Department never signed the draft agreement as it pushed through with the current ban plan.

In response, the DOJ defended the legislation as a way to defend the country and its citizens against the "threat of autocratic nations that can weaponize technology" against the people.

TikTok Vs US Gov't Expected to Continue for Years

The latest court filing is expected to be only the first out of many court battles TikTok and the US government will have to clash amid a growing push to ban the app in the country.

TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew earlier vowed to bring the platform's case into the legal court, promising that "we aren't going anywhere."

@tiktok Response to TikTok Ban Bill ♬ original sound - TikTok

While the passed Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act only gives its parent company ByteDance until January 2025 to divest, experts believed that the legal dispute would extend far beyond the allotted period.

CNBC News earlier reported that the proposed ban could take years before going into effect as both sides try to exhaust resources.

This is not to mention the users, advocacy groups, and trade groups that have also been filing separate lawsuits against the government to block the legislation from going into effect.