According to Federal Communications Commission (FCC) commissioner Brendan Carr, India’s recent actions against TikTok could potentially impact legal proceedings in the United States.
Carr mentioned in an interview with the Economic Times that ByteDance, the Chinese-owned company behind TikTok, is preparing to challenge the US ban on its video-sharing platform, and India’s actions may have implications for American courts.
Carr’s remarks come shortly after US President Joe Biden’s directive targeting the popular app. President Biden signed a bill that requires ByteDance to either sell off TikTok or face a ban within the next nine to twelve months.
Despite this, ByteDance has stated that it has no intentions of selling the app. TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew has emphasized that both the facts and the US Constitution support the company’s position.
TikTok has expressed its concerns, asserting on its official account on microblogging platform X that a potential ban in the US would violate the free speech rights of 170 million Americans.
The company is likely to invoke the First Amendment of the US Constitution, which protects freedom of speech, press, assembly, and the right to petition the government for grievances.
However, Carr believes that this argument may not be enough to persuade US courts in favor of ByteDance.
Carr proposes that the measures taken by India against TikTok might have an impact on the legal dispute in the United States. He speculates that TikTok could potentially argue that the ban imposed by the US is based on an unfounded fixation with China, highlighting non-existent threats.
Nevertheless, Carr highlights that India, being a neighboring country to China, has also implemented similar actions against TikTok, indicating a broader concern that goes beyond the relations between the US and China.
According to Carr, India’s position could hold relevance in court filings in the US, showcasing that the concerns surrounding TikTok extend beyond American borders.
He suggests that India’s swift and proactive measures could shape the narrative surrounding the ban of TikTok in the US, underscoring a global perspective on the matter.
