Justice Department responds to TikTok lawsuit, argues algorithm could allow Chinese government to influence US elections

Allowing TikTok to continue to be operated by its current parent company could allow the Chinese government to covertly influence US elections, according to the Justice Department. Prosecutors have raised concerns that TikTok’s algorithm could be used in a secret manipulation campaign to influence the views of Americans. The filing responds to a federal lawsuit brought by TikTok against the US government in May to block a law that could force a nationwide ban of the app. The legal battle could determine whether security concerns about TikTok’s links to China can override the First Amendment rights of its US users.