Erich Andersen, Resigns To Focus On Resistance Against TikTok Sales In The US

JAKARTA - Erich Andersen, a legal spokesperson for TikTok and its parent company from China, ByteDance, will step down from the post in June to focus on resisting attempts to force the sale of the video app in the US. This was conveyed on Friday, April 26.

Andersen will remain in the company and become a special advisor to lead TikTok's efforts to overturn the law signed into law by US President Joe Biden on Wednesday, April 30, giving ByteDance 270 days to sell short video app TikTok in the United States or face bans.

TikTok said this week it plans to file a lawsuit to challenge the legislation but refuses to reveal when they plan to do so.

Andersen is a key player in the company's success challenges in 2020 against Donald Trump's administration's attempts to ban TikTok and last year's challenges resulting in a judge stopping the ban in the state of Montana.

TikTok, which says it has never shared and will never share US user data with the Chinese government, will challenge the law on the basis of First Amendment, and TikTok users are also expected to take legal action again.

TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew praised Andersen and said he was very pleased Andersen "has agreed to take on the role of special advisor to focus on this very important mission for our company."

Chew said on Wednesday that the company expects to win its legal challenges to deter legislation that could ban apps used by 170 million Americans.

Biden's signature set a deadline for sale on January 19 - one day before his term ends - but he could extend the deadline for three months if he judged ByteDance to be making progress.

Wide push among US lawmakers concerned that China could access US citizen data or monitor them with the app, the law was passed with much support in recent days.

The four-year fighting over TikTok is an important front in the war over the internet and technology between Washington and Beijing.