In a bold move to rally support against a potential nationwide ban, TikTok has taken the unprecedented step of displaying a prominent message to all its American users, urging them to contact their Congressional representatives and voice their opposition to the proposed legislation. On Thursday morning, as users across the United States opened the popular video-sharing app, they were greeted with a full-screen message that read:
"Speak up now before your government takes away the freedom of expression from 170 million Americans that is protected by the Constitution. Tell Congress what TikTok means to you and urge them to vote NO."
Beneath the impassioned call to action, a prominent red button emblazoned with the words "Call Now" allowed users to directly connect with their respective members of Congress.
TikTok's plea to its vast user base comes amidst mounting scrutiny from the U.S. government and legislative bodies over potential national security concerns surrounding the app's Chinese ownership. Last year, TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew spent five grueling hours testifying before Congress, addressing questions about the Chinese government's potential access to American user data.
Throughout his testimony, Chew repeatedly asserted that TikTok and its parent company, ByteDance, are not controlled by the Chinese government, and that there is no evidence of Beijing accessing American user data. However, the company did acknowledge dismissing ByteDance employees for improperly accessing journalists' IP addresses to determine their locations.
As the controversy escalated, dozens of U.S. states have banned the use of TikTok on government-issued devices. This week, the issue resurfaced with the introduction of a proposed bill that would grant the President of the United States the authority to designate social media applications deemed a national security threat and remove them from app stores.
The bill's proponents have demanded that TikTok sever ties with ByteDance if it wishes to avoid a potential ban and the loss of its estimated 170 million American users.
In a statement to TechCrunch, TikTok confirmed that the message appeared on the screens of all U.S. users aged 18 and above.
This is not the first time TikTok has leveraged its user base to exert pressure on Congress. Last year, Chew brought along several high-profile TikTok creators, including Vitus Spehar (UnderTHeDeskNews), during his Congressional testimony.
As the battle over TikTok's fate in the United States intensifies, the company's direct appeal to its users represents a bold and unprecedented move, one that underscores the high stakes involved and the determination of both sides to sway public opinion and secure their desired outcome.