Military Space News
CYBER WARS
TikTok 'confident' of stopping Montana ban: CEO
TikTok 'confident' of stopping Montana ban: CEO
By Talek HARRIS
Doha (AFP) May 23, 2023

TikTok is confident of stopping a ban in the US state of Montana, its CEO said on Tuesday, after the Chinese-owned social media app launched a legal challenge.

The unprecedented ban, set to start in 2024, is shaping as a test case for the United States as lawmakers in Washington increasingly call for a national prohibition, citing security concerns.

"We believe that the Montana bill that was recently passed is simply unconstitutional," Shou Zi Chew told the Qatar Economic Forum.

"We very recently filed a lawsuit, the challenge is in the courts and we are confident that we will prevail," he added.

Shou was speaking just hours after TikTok filed suit in US federal court, arguing that Montana's ban violates the constitutionally protected right to free speech.

The video-sharing app, owned by Chinese firm ByteDance, is accused by a swathe of US politicians of being under the tutelage of the Chinese government and a tool of espionage by Beijing, something the company furiously denies.

Montana Governor Greg Gianforte signed the prohibition into law on May 17, saying on Twitter that he endorsed it in order to "protect Montanans' personal and private data from the Chinese Communist Party".

TikTok's lawsuit contended that "the state has enacted these extraordinary and unprecedented measures based on nothing more than unfounded speculation".

Five TikTok users last week filed a suit of their own, calling on a federal court to overturn Montana's ban on the app, arguing that it violates their rights to free speech.

- 'We're here to stay' -

The state is trying to exercise national security power that only the federal government can wield and is violating free speech rights in the process, both suits filed against Montana argue.

"They care because TikTok is very important to them," Chew said, referring to the users who filed suit.

He insisted that TikTok had taken steps to protect US users' data by storing it "on American soil by an American company and overseen by American personnel".

"We believe that we have taken steps that are above and beyond what our industry has done to protect the safety of the US individual," he said.

In March, Chew faced a grilling in Congress from combative US lawmakers on both sides of the political aisle over TikTok's alleged ties to China and its danger to teenagers.

"I'm very grateful for the opportunity to show up and to tell all sides of the story. Throughout the five hours, I believe I had time to do that," he told the forum.

With more than one billion active users including about 150 million in the US, TikTok pulled in $11 billion in advertising revenue last year.

TikTok's editing features and AI-powered algorithm have kept it ahead of the game, attracting an army of creators and influencers. But it is frequently accused of spreading disinformation.

Among its difficulties around the world, the US federal government and European Commission have banned staff from using TikTok. Britain has stopped its lawmakers from using it.

Last month, Australia joined the list of countries banning the app from government devices, and Britain's data regulator levied a 12.7 million pound ($15.9 million) fine for allowing up to 1.4 million children under 13 to use the platform, in violation of its own rules.

However, Chew said TikTok could also have a "positive impact", citing the example of a user with autism who has "found his voice through music" that he shares on the app.

"That gives me a lot of confidence that we can have very thoughtful conversations with regulators around the world," said Chew.

"And I'm confident that we are here to stay."

Related Links
Cyberwar - Internet Security News - Systems and Policy Issues

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
CYBER WARS
Business tough in China as national security trumps all
Shanghai (AFP) May 20, 2023
Doing business in China has become harder and potentially more perilous as the government prioritises an ever-widening definition of national security over all else, despite insisting the country has reopened for trading. In late March, authorities hosted global executives in Beijing, telling them they were "not foreign visitors, but a family" and pledging to slash red tape. But since pandemic restrictions were lifted in recent months, China has restricted overseas access to data and publicised ... read more

CYBER WARS
Northrop Grumman on track to produce early-warning missile defense program

Life and death weigh on Ukraine air defence teams

Lockheed Martin to modernize US missile defense with C2BMC

Raytheon to provide Patriot air defense system to Switzerland

CYBER WARS
US sees 'serious threat' as Iran unveils new missile

Iran unveils new ballistic missile

All targets 'destroyed' in overnight Ukraine strikes: Russia

Elbit Systems secures $305M deal for PULS Rocket Artillery Systems for Dutch Army

CYBER WARS
Kyiv defences repel Russian drone attack: officials

ETRI lays the groundwork for convenient and safe drone flight

Military drones are swarming the skies of Ukraine and other conflicts

Turkish drone kills three PKK-linked fighters: Iraqi Kurdish security

CYBER WARS
Accenture invests in SpiderOak to elevate satellite communications security in space

Airbus selects UK National Satellite Test Facility for SKYNET 6A testing

SES and TESAT to develop payload for Europe's EAGLE-1 quantum cryptography satellite system

CesiumAstro to supply 7 comms payloads to Raytheon for SDA Tranche 1 Tracking Layer.

CYBER WARS
Czechs ink $2.7 bn deal for Swedish combat vehicles

MARSS passes major milestone in multi-site defence project in the middle east

PathFinder Digital receives additional orders under DLA IDIQ Contract

AFWERX announces new Mantra, Mission and Vision Statement

CYBER WARS
South Korea says Ukraine artillery ammo report 'inaccurate'

U.S. sanctions Wagner leader for sourcing weapons through Mali

Myanmar junta using imported arms to commit rights violations: UN expert

South Africans fret over US arms-to-Russia charge

CYBER WARS
EU urges China to push Russia to withdraw from Ukraine

NATO chief admits splits on Ukraine membership push

China's premier hails close ties in talks with Russian PM

Russian PM hails China ties in face of 'pressure' from West

CYBER WARS
Single-molecule valve: a breakthrough in nanoscale control

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.