TikTok Takes Trump's Exclusive Policies To Court

TikTok illustration (unsplash)

JAKARTA - ByteDance, the technology holding company of the TikTok application, will sue the United States (US) government regarding the executive policy issued by President Donald Trump. Because the policy urged ByteDance to release its business ownership in order to continue operating and doing business in the US.

Quoting from the South China Morning Post, the lawsuit has been filed with US Courts in Southern California. ByteDance blamed President Trump's justification for issuing executive policy to TikTok.

Especially with the requirement to release ownership of TikTok shares and operations, to US companies in order to continue operating. If not fulfilled, the US government will ban TikTok operations and businesses for national security reasons related to information and communication technology.

So far, TikTok is not the only one that will be banned from operating. Similar platforms from China will also be banned, including the instant messaging app WeChat.

TikTok itself has repeatedly rejected the issue of sharing data with the Chinese government. ByteDance has also separated TikTok's business management from its sister app used in China, Douyin.

In addition, ByteDance has recruited Kevin Mayer, former head of Disney's streaming program, as managing director. These technology companies have also published their algorithm code as a form of transparency and proof that no American user data has been disclosed to the Chinese government.

With the September 15 deadline approaching TikTok's final decision, ByteDance is still hoping for a change in the decision from the United States, while continuing to negotiate with potential TikTok buyers.

A message to the TikTok community. pic.twitter.com/UD3TR2HfEf

- TikTok (@tiktok_us) August 1, 2020

Currently two US technology giants, Microsoft and Twitter, have reportedly offered the purchase price of TikTok's US operations. However, from a source from the South China Morning Post, the price is still too low.

TikTok's market share value is around US $ 30 billion, while TikTok's value before President Trump's ban was around US $ 50 billion. Meanwhile, Microsoft instead wants to target TikTok's operations in the US, Canada and Australia with a bid in the range of $ 10-30 billion lower.