(COLUMBIA, S.C.) – South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson stood with a coalition of 21 attorneys general in asking the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia to uphold the national TikTok divest-or-ban legislation passed by Congress earlier this year. TikTok has confirmed its technology and infrastructure are ultimately controlled by the Chinese government, heightening concerns for national security and Americans’ right to privacy.
“TikTok is a tool of the Chinese Communist Party, an enemy of the United States, so its operations in the U.S. pose a serious threat to our national security. The First Amendment does not protect a platform that allows the CCP to exploit Americans’ data and undermine our freedoms. I look forward to working with the incoming Trump administration to protect not only our national security but our children,” said Attorney General Wilson.
The attorneys general are asking the court to deny TikTok’s petition, as it is within Congress’s power to act on matters of national security and foreign affairs. The attorneys general have huge concerns over TikTok’s collection of Americans’ data, which could be shared with the Chinese Communist Party. The AGs are concerned the app promotes dangerous content to minors as well.