The Justice Department has accused TikTok of gathering bulk information on its users based on their views on divisive social issues like gun control, abortion, and religion. The department alleges that TikTok employees used an internal web-suite system called Lark to send sensitive data about U.S. users to servers in China, where it is accessible to ByteDance employees. The government warned of potential “covert content manipulation” by the Chinese government through TikTok’s algorithm, which could be designed to shape the content that users receive.
The new court documents represent the government’s defense in a legal battle over the future of TikTok, which could face a ban if it doesn’t break ties with ByteDance under a law signed by President Joe Biden. The law aims to prevent Chinese authorities from accessing U.S. user data or using the platform to sway public opinion towards Beijing’s interests. The Justice Department contends that the law is not about limiting speech on TikTok but addresses national security concerns regarding foreign ownership of the app.
TikTok has denied the allegations and pointed out lawmakers’ hypocrisy in a legal filing, claiming that the ban would violate the First Amendment rights of its 170 million American users. The company argues that the government has not provided proof of its claims and is hiding behind secret information. TikTok has also challenged the law by arguing that it discriminates on viewpoints and infringes on free speech rights. The Justice Department, however, maintains that the law is necessary to address national security concerns related to China’s potential influence over the platform.
The Justice Department revealed in court documents that TikTok had suppressed content based on certain words and policies, some of which may have been applied to users outside of China. This censorship tool raised concerns about TikTok’s compliance with Beijing’s strict censorship rules and its impact on users in the U.S. The government also questioned the effectiveness of TikTok’s mitigation plan to store U.S. user data on servers owned by Oracle, citing ongoing national security risks.
The legal battle between TikTok and the Justice Department is set to continue with oral arguments scheduled for September. The government maintains that the law is constitutional and necessary to protect U.S. national security interests from potential Chinese influence. TikTok continues to assert its First Amendment rights and challenges the government’s claims of national security risks posed by its ties to ByteDance. The outcome of the case will have significant implications for the future of TikTok and its millions of users in the U.S.
