‘We aren’t going anywhere’: TikTok CEO Shou Chew responds defiantly after Joe Biden signs app's ban into law

WASHINGTON, DC: In a bold response to the recent legislation that could potentially ban TikTok in the US, the CEO of the popular social media platform has issued a defiant message.

Shou Chew, the CEO of TikTok, reassured users that the platform is not planning to back down and is prepared to fight the ban.

TikTok CEO Shou Chew challenges Biden and Congress

After President Joe Biden signed a law that could force ByteDance, TikTok’s China-based parent company, to divest from the platform within a year or face a ban in the US, Chew took to the platform to voice his defiance.

“Rest assured, we aren’t going anywhere,” Chew stated in a video posted on TikTok and other social media platforms.

“As you may have heard Congress passed a bill that the president signed into law that is designed to ban TikTok in the United States,” he said. “That will take TikTok away from you and 170 million Americans who find community and connection on our platform."

TikTok CEO Shou Chew says banning Tiktok would silence people's voices in the US

Chew described the impact of the potential ban on the platform’s vast user base. “Make no mistake, this is a ban. A ban on TikTok and a ban on you and your voice,” Chew said.

“Politicians may say otherwise but don’t get confused. Many who sponsored the bill admit a TikTok ban is the ultimate goal," he said further in his video post.

Chew criticized the new law, asserting that “the facts and the Constitution are on our side.”

A TikTok spokesperson echoed the same sentiment, telling Daily Mail that they plan to challenge the law in court.

“This unconstitutional law is a TikTok ban, and we will challenge it in court. We believe the facts and the law are clearly on our side, and we will ultimately prevail," the spokesperson said.

TikTok is set to challenge its ban

The bill, first introduced in March, was approved in the House with a modified version.

On Tuesday, April 23 evening, the Senate voted to pass that bill 79-18. That version of the legislation, which Biden signed into law, gives ByteDance nine months to sell TikTok and a possible three-month extension if a sale is in progress.

President Biden hailed the signing of the law as a victory for America and Europe. “This is a good day for America. It’s a good day Europe,” Biden said after signing it into law.

“It’s going to make America safer. It’s going to make the world safer," he added.

Internet's reaction to TikTok CEO Shou Chew's message to Congress

The Internet had a variety of reactions to Chew’s defiant message. Some users expressed support for the platform, while others applauded the potential ban.

One user expressed their surprise, “Brah, ya know Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter/X are BANNED in China, right? In what world did ya think this wasn’t gonna happen when they initiated it???”

Another user called for collective action, “Man, them content creators need to come together and do something.”

“I don’t care about the international beef; no law is gonna tell me what social media to use. It’s a free country” a defiant user wrote. 

“Extremely wild to ban TikTok before addressing common-sense gun regulation” juxtaposed one. “They basically said they ain’t selling s**t” observed one.

One more said, “It’s not a ban, loser. So sorry you can’t spy on people this way anymore.”

“Chinese propaganda app is banned!” said another individual.

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.