The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has raised concerns that TikTok poses risks of content manipulation and the potential for sensitive user information to be stored on servers in China.

In response, TikTok, along with ByteDance and a group of creators, has filed lawsuits to block a law that could jeopardize the app's operations in the U.S., affecting around 170 million users.

This law, signed by President Joe Biden in April, aims to eliminate Chinese ownership of TikTok for national security reasons, rather than outright banning the app.

Allegations against TikTok include practices like 'heating,' where certain videos are artificially promoted, raising concerns about potential manipulation of content.

The DOJ is seeking to submit a classified legal brief detailing further security concerns related to ByteDance's ownership of TikTok, which will not be accessible to TikTok or ByteDance.

Oral arguments in the legal case are scheduled for September, as TikTok continues to contest the law's constitutionality.

TikTok has denied the allegations of posing a national security threat and argues that the government's actions are unconstitutional.

Despite TikTok's efforts, including a $1.5 billion investment in Project Texas to safeguard U.S. user data, officials remain skeptical about the effectiveness of these measures.

The DOJ emphasizes ongoing concerns about China's ability to leverage technology against U.S. national security, citing potential foreign interference in critical elections.

The DOJ counters TikTok's claims of viewpoint discrimination, asserting that the law is a necessary response to technological threats posed by China.

In court documents released on July 27, 2024, the DOJ stated that the U.S. does not need to wait for foreign adversaries to take harmful actions before responding to perceived threats.