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A diverse group of TikTok creators, ranging from veterans and entrepreneurs to artists and activists, filed a lawsuit on Tuesday in U.S. federal court to challenge a law signed by President Joe Biden, Per Reuters report.
The law aims to force the sale or ban of TikTok, which boasts 170 million American users, citing national security concerns.
The plaintiffs argue that the law not only threatens their freedom of speech but also aims to "shutter a discrete medium of communication that has become part of American life." They emphasize the unique and irreplaceable platform TikTok provides for self-expression and community building.
The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, seeks injunctive relief to prevent the law's enforcement. Davis Wright Tremaine LLP, the law firm representing the creators, provided a copy of the suit to Reuters.
The White House declined to comment on the lawsuit, while a Justice Department spokesperson defended the legislation, asserting its consistency with the First Amendment and other constitutional limitations.
This legal action follows a similar lawsuit filed last week by TikTok and its parent company ByteDance, challenging the law's constitutionality. Previous attempts to ban TikTok under the Trump administration were also met with legal challenges and ultimately blocked by the courts.
The outcome of this lawsuit could have significant implications for the future of TikTok in the U.S. and the broader landscape of social media regulation.
