TikTok Ban: Pro-Bitcoin RFK Threatens Lawsuit To Support ByteDance

The ban decision made by United States President Joe Biden on video sharing platform TikTok, appears to have stirred some animosity from top players like Robert F. Kennedy Jr (RFK).

TikTok Ban Labeled a Smoke Screen

Independent US Presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has threatened to contest the TikTok ban based on constitutional rights. 

On Saturday, the pro-Bitcoin politician explained to his followers on X that the ban was not exactly what they were made to believe; the harvesting of users’ data. 

RFK further described the ban as a “smoke screen.”

For context, RFK explained that data harvesting was already happening globally before now especially amongst intelligence agencies in the U.S. In his opinion, Congress and the Biden administration do not have enough information about how TikTok operates. 

The video sharing app has been serving as an entrepreneurial platform for many of its young users but according to RFK’s argument it appears that the government does not understand this.

“The TikTok ban is yet another example of how neither political party has any compunctions about sacrificing your freedoms, rights, and choices when it serves their political interests,” the politician said.

TikTok CEO Plans To Fight App’s Ban

Meanwhile, the potential TikTok ban was announced on Thursday after President Biden signed a law that compels TikTok owner ByteDance, a Chinese corporation, to sell its interest on TikTok within 12 months of the signature. A violation of the law would attract a ban from the U.S. government. The parent company ByteDance was also given nine months to find a buyer for TikTok.

In response, the social media platform released a statement explaining the impact that the ban could have on several businesses. For emphasis, TikTok stated that the ban would impact as much as 7 million businesses and 170 million American users by keeping them from freely expressing themselves. TikTok CEO, Shou Zi Chew, expressed his dissatisfaction, and voiced his commitment to fight the ban.

The new bill was signed after the United States House of Representatives voted in favour of the legislation a few days before. The legislation received 360 Yes in its favour and 58 No against it.