TikTok confirmed on Saturday that it would file a lawsuit against the Trump administration for submitting the executive order, which asks the parent company ByteDance to divest TikTok 's US operations.
It is the first time the company has confirmed that it will start claiming its position legally, a move that has been rumored for several weeks. Reports began to appear on Friday for a possible lawsuit.
"While we strongly disagree with the Trump administration, we have been trying to find a constructive solution for almost a year," TikTok spokesman Josh Gartner told The Verge.
"On the contrary, what we encountered was a lack of due process, as the government did not pay attention to the facts and tried to enter into negotiations between private companies."
To ensure that the rule of law works and that our company and users are treated fairly, we have no choice but to challenge the Executive Order through the judiciary.
President Trump signed the executive order on August 6, blocking all transactions with ByteDance in an effort to "address a national information and communication technology emergency." The order is an unusual move that makes TikTok operating in the US a national emergency.
The order was to take effect within 45 days. On August 14, the president signed another executive order, this time giving ByteDance 90 days to sell or withdraw TikTok from the United States.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said TikTok could be banned from July 7 and compared the company to Huawei and ZTE, two Chinese companies that have been identified as threats to US national security.
"Microsoft fully appreciates the President's concerns. "It is committed to acquiring TikTok under full security control and providing appropriate financial benefits to the United States, including the United States Department of the Treasury." Reported on August 2 Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella.
