Content creators are trying to block a US law that could ban TikTok

A group of TikTok content creators sued in federal court on Tuesday to block a law that would force sales of the short-form video app used by 170 million Americans.

“Although they come from different places, professions, backgrounds and political beliefs, they are united in their belief that TikTok offers a unique and irreplaceable way to express themselves and build community,” the lawsuit said.

Davis Wright Tremaine LLP, the law firm representing the creators, provided Reuters with a copy of the lawsuit filed in the federal appeals court for the District of Columbia Circuit.

The lawsuit seeking injunctive relief says the law threatens free speech and “promises to shut down a unique medium that has become a part of American life.”

Last week, TikTok and its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, filed a similar lawsuit, arguing that the law violates the US Constitution on several grounds, as it conflicts with the First Amendment’s freedom of speech.

TikTok creators filed a similar lawsuit in 2020, blocking an earlier attempt to ban the app. They also took action in Montana last year, asking the courts to block a statewide ban.

Approved by Biden on April 24, the law allows Byte Dance to sell TikTok until January 19. Otherwise the application will be banned. The White House has said it no longer wants to own the Chinese company for national security reasons, but it does not want to ban TikTok.

The law prohibits app stores like Apple and Alphabet’s Google from offering TikTok. Additionally, it bans web hosting services that support TikTok unless they sell the ByteDance app by January 19.