TikTok, the popular video app facing a new law that could lead to its ban in the United States, has released details about numerous confidential meetings with top federal officials in an effort to address concerns about the company’s Chinese ownership.
According to a court filing, TikTok revealed that the federal government stopped engaging with the company on its efforts in September 2022. The company argued that the law, which requires its parent company ByteDance to sell the app to a non-Chinese buyer by mid-January or face a ban, violates the First Amendment.
TikTok shared a 90-page proposal called Project Texas, outlining how it planned to address national security concerns about the app, including fears that the Chinese government could use it for propaganda or data collection. Despite discussions with the Biden administration, the proposal was never approved.
The company also disclosed details of meetings with the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) and a one-page document outlining key national security concerns provided by the Justice Department to Congress in March.
TikTok’s legal battle against the government, which could end up in the Supreme Court, has shed light on the company’s efforts to address security concerns. The documents show that discussions about a potential sale and moving coding from China were ongoing since at least March 2023.
The Justice Department defended the law, stating that it addresses critical national security concerns while being consistent with the First Amendment. The department emphasized the threat of autocratic nations using technology to collect sensitive data, highlighting the importance of protecting national security.
As the legal battle continues, the future of TikTok, which boasts 170 million users in the United States, remains uncertain. The company’s efforts to address security concerns and the government’s push for a sale to a non-Chinese buyer will shape the outcome of this high-stakes dispute.
