TikTok and ByteDance requested a US appeals court reject the Justice Department’s bid to file a case urging the divestiture of its assets.
They said that if they fail to review the government’s evidence, they cannot refute contentions that turn out to be false. Moreover, they would be unable to explain why the authorities’ arguments and proof are legally insufficient.
TikTok stated if the court refuses to reject the evidence, it should assign a district court judge to assess the content of the classified submissions. The judge would also evaluate the government’s asserted need for secrecy.
In addition, the department filed a classified document mentioning more security concerns about ByteDance’s ownership of the social media app.
The file includes broader declarations from the FBI, Office of the Director of National Intelligence, and DOJ’s Security Division. Meanwhile, TikTok aims for the court to reject the secret filing.
According to reports, the Justice Department argued that the Chinese company’s ownership serves as a significant national security threat. This is due to its access to a massive range of Americans’ personal data, claiming that China can manipulate information that Americans view on TikTok.
EU Lite Rewards Withdrawn by TikTok for Tech Rules Compliance
The European Commission said TikTok agreed to permanently withdraw its Lite rewards program to comply with the Digital Services Act (DSA).
TikTok Lite’s program allows users to collect points while completing specific tasks on the platform. These include watching videos, liking content, following creators, and inviting friends to join.
In April, the EU demanded an immediate risk evaluation from the company after it was released in France and Spain. This came amid concerns about the potential threats to children and users’ mental health.
Moreover, the EU’s executive branch claimed that TikTok made legally binding commitments to pull out the rewards program. Meanwhile, the commission said that any violations of commitments could lead to fines.
