United States: TikTok goes to war against Donald Trump

The Chinese TikTok app has one billion users. Olivier DOULIERY / AFP

Text by: RFI Follow

2 min

The TikTok app, known for sharing short videos, many of which go viral, has been under attack from the US administration for weeks. This Saturday, the company confirmed what had been said behind the scenes for several days: it will bring a lawsuit against Donald Trump and his administration in the coming days.

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With our correspondent in Houston,  Thomas Harms

TikTok has decided to strike back. The company will sue the Trump administration. "  To ensure that the law is upheld and that our business and our users are treated fairly, we have no choice but to challenge the executive order (signed by Mr. Trump) through the court system,  " writes the group.

In the crosshairs: Decrees of August 6 and 14 ordering Byte Dance, which owns TikTok, to cede its US operations. Concretely, the presidential decree of August 6 prohibits the application from any transaction with American partners within 45 days. The decrees do not specify the practical consequences, but the ban on any transaction with the two companies could force Google and Apple to remove the two networks from their app stores, effectively preventing them from being used in the United States.

For months the US president has accused, without tangible proof, the application created in China of being a danger to national security. In question, data theft or even espionage for the benefit of Beijing.

TikTok claims to have offered constructive solutions for nearly a year, but to have suffered only obstructions and interference from the administration in its private business discussions.

Microsoft, Twitter or Oracle would be in line to acquire TikTok. Despite this legal process, negotiations should continue.

Last April the TikTok application reached two billion downloads. In the United States, over 100 million people use the app regularly.

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  • United States
  • Social networks
  • Donald trump
  • China

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