Eight TikTok content creators have filed a lawsuit against the U.S. government, claiming that a new law could potentially violate their First Amendment rights by threatening the platform’s existence, which they rely on for self-expression and advocacy.
Eight TikTok content creators have sued the U.S. government over a new federal law that could force the sale or ban of the platform. The lawsuit, filed on Tuesday in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, claims the law violates the creators’ First Amendment rights by potentially shutting down a key medium of communication.
The creators involved include Brian Firebaugh, a cattle rancher from Texas; Chloe Joy Sexton, a cookie business owner from Memphis; Kiera Spann, a recent college graduate from Charlotte; Topher Townsend, an Air Force veteran and rapper; Talia Cadet, a lifestyle creator from Washington, D.C.; Timothy Marin, a college football coach from North Dakota; Paul Tran, a beauty creator from Atlanta; and Steven King, a creator from Arizona. They assert that TikTok is essential for their self-expression, advocacy, and livelihoods.
The creators are represented by Davis Wright Tremaine, a law firm experienced in First Amendment cases, and TikTok is covering their legal fees. President Biden signed the contentious law last month amid growing concerns about national security and data privacy from China-based ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company. However, critics, including the creators, argue there is no substantive evidence proving such threats.
The lawsuit echoes previous successful legal challenges against TikTok bans, highlighting concerns over free speech and the unique impact of TikTok’s algorithm in creating and distributing content. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit will first review the motions before any proceedings proceed.
