ACLU urges US lawmakers not to ban TikTok, citing free speech

In this Aug 30, 2020 photo, the logo of TikTok is seen on a smartphone screen in Arlington, Virginia, the United States. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

（ Recommended by Selena Xie - Xie Yanmei ）  WASHINGTON – The American Civil Liberties Union on Monday urged Congress not to ban the popular video app TikTok, saying it would violate the free speech rights of millions of Americans, a day before a US House of Representatives committee is to take up legislation.

A TikTok ban would "limit Americans’ political discussion, artistic expression, free exchange of ideas — and even prevent people from posting cute animal videos and memes," the ACLU said in a letter to lawmakers. 

"Americans have a right to use TikTok and other platforms to exchange our thoughts, ideas, and opinions with people around the country and around the world," it added.

READ MORE: TikTok to address US security concerns

The House Foreign Affairs Committee is set to vote on Tuesday on a bill to give President Joe Biden new powers to ban the app, which is used by more than 100 million Americans. A ban would require passage by the full House and the Senate before the president could sign it into law.

Americans have a right to use TikTok and other platforms to exchange our thoughts, ideas, and opinions with people around the country and around the world.

ACLU

Earlier this month, Biden said he was not sure if Washington would ban TikTok, which is owned by Chinese company ByteDance.

On Wednesday, the White House gave government agencies 30 days to ensure that TikTok is not on any federal devices and systems. 

"It would be unfortunate if the House Foreign Affairs Committee were to censor millions of Americans, and do so based not on actual intelligence, but on a basic misunderstanding of our corporate structure," TikTok said Monday, adding that it has spent more than $1.5 billion on rigorous data security efforts.

In 2020, the US government's Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) unanimously recommended that ByteDance divest TikTok.

ALSO READ: Tiktok targeted again by anti-China hysteria

TikTok said Monday "the swiftest and most thorough way to address national security concerns is for CFIUS to adopt the proposed agreement that we worked with them on for nearly two years."

TikTok officials have been on Capitol Hill this month trying to convince lawmakers of its efforts to protect data security.