TikTok Creators File Suit Against U.S. Government For Bill to Ban App - 1

TikTok Creators File Suit Against U.S. Government For Bill to Ban App

  • Written by Andrea Miliani Former Tech News Expert
  • Fact-Checked by

Eight TikTok creators filed a suit against the U.S. government on Tuesday over a new law that would force the Chinese company owner to sell the app or face a ban in the country. They claim that the law violates the First Amendment.

In March, the US House passed a bill to ban TikTok if the social media platform doesn’t disconnect from its parent company ByteDance, considered a national security threat due to its relation with the Chinese government. But a group of TikTok creators want to stop this process. They are being represented by the law firm Davis Wright Tremaine, which shared a copy of the lawsuit on its website, and TikTok confirmed that it is covering the creator’s legal fees for the lawsuit.

According to the New York Times , the creators filed the suit in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, and they represent a diverse group. Among the Tiktokers involved, the journal mentions a biblical literacy promoter, a veteran who sells ranch products, and a skincare entrepreneur.

The creators claim that they “have found their voices, amassed significant audiences, made new friends and encountered new and different ways of thinking — all because of TikTok’s novel way of hosting, curating, and disseminating speech.” They consider the U.S. government’s bill to ban the app acts as an attack on freedom of speech, depriving citizens of a special form of expression and communication.

According to Reuters , the U.S. government refused to comment. A Justice Department spokesperson said that the law considers “critical national security concerns” and that the department will defend it in court.

It’s not the first time the U.S. government has faced a lawsuit on similar grounds. In 2020, Davis Wright Tremaine also represented three TikTok creators against Trump’s order to ban the app. A Pennsylvania judge ruled in their favor, declaring the order a violation of the right to free speech. In 2023, the firm also won a case in Montana, with the judge stating that the order to ban TikTok “violates the constitution in more ways than one.”

TikTok Adding Labels to AI-Generated Content Created on Other Platforms - 2

TikTok Adding Labels to AI-Generated Content Created on Other Platforms

  • Written by Shipra Sanganeria Cybersecurity & Tech Writer
  • Fact-Checked by

Last week, TikTok introduced automatic labeling for AI-generated content (AIGC), even if it was originally created on another platform. As stated in the May 9 announcement , this move is an effort to boost transparency and literacy around AI for both content creators and viewers.

Last year, TikTok introduced AI-generated tags , which are superimposed onto any content created or enhanced through its own AI effects. By expanding this system to both TikTok-made content and content from other platforms, TikTok is taking the lead in creating an industry-wide standard for responsible AIGC content labeling.

“Our users and our creators are so excited about AI and what it can do for their creativity and their ability to connect with audiences,” Adam Presser, TikTok’s Head of Operations & Trust and Safety said in an interview with ABC News . “And at the same time, we want to make sure that people have that ability to understand what fact is and what is fiction.”

To help viewers discern fact from fiction, the company has partnered with the Coalition for Content Provenance and Authenticity (C2PA) — an open technology standard that provides various tools and resources to identify AIGC.

TikTok will be applying C2PA’s Content Credentials technology that attaches metadata to any AI-generated content. Presently, the digital watermark will be applied to images and videos but will soon be rolled out for audio-only content as well.

In the last few months, other tech companies have also announced similar measures to ensure transparency around AI-generated content. Google introduced a similar labeling policy on its YouTube platform in March, while in February Meta said it would be labeling AI-generated content on Facebook, Threads, and Instagram.

Along with the new tools, TikTok will also create informational videos and other resources dedicated to helping people identify misinformation online and enhancing their media literacy skills. It will also join the Adobe-led Content Authenticity Initiative (CAI) to promote the adoption of Content Credentials across social media platforms.

“With TikTok’s vast community of creators and users globally, we are thrilled to welcome them to both the C2PA and CAI.” Dana Rao, Adobe’s General Counsel and Chief Trust Officer said in the announcement. “At a time when any digital content can be altered, it is essential to provide ways for the public to discern what is true.”