Ahead of the looming U.S. ban on the social media app TikTok, which is set to take effect January 19, a popular online influencer from Mississippi is appealing to First Amendment rights as the reason for the court system to nullify the move.
Christopher Townsend, known by millions of followers as “Topher,” is one of eight digital creators suing the U.S. government over HR 7521 – an act passed by Congress in March of 2024 that would effectively shut down TikTok in the U.S. because it is a “foreign adversary controlled application.” Though not overtly mentioned, lawmakers have publicly cited national security concerns because a portion of the application is owned by the People’s Republic of China.
The measure threatened to outlaw domestic use of the app if its China-based parent company, ByteDance, did not sell the platform to an approved buyer. President Joe Biden signed the bill into law in 2024 amid claims from the Department of Justice that American usage opened the door for data theft and the proliferation of Chinese propaganda.
Townsend, the military veteran who has built internet fame with his pro-conservative rants, rap music, and faith-based content, is claiming that the ban is a misuse of government power that infringes on the rights of American users.
“When it comes to my First Amendment rights, I served in the military to procure those rights and make sure they remain protected,” Townsend said on The Gallo Show. “To see the government haphazardly just strike down TikTok… I think is dangerous.”
Townsend is joined by a diverse group of other popular personal brands in the lawsuit, including an LGBTQIA+ advocate in Arizona, a Texas rancher, and a skincare influencer. The complaint, along with other legal challenges to HR 7521, was heard by the U.S. Supreme Court on Friday, though it did not reach an official decision after nearly two and a half hours of proceedings.
A decision from the land’s highest court is expected sometime
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