FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 17, 2025, 2:00 PM
Contact: contact@campaignforuyghurs.org
+1 (650)703-4523
https://campaignforuyghurs.org
Washington D.C. – Today, Campaign for Uyghurs (CFU) applauds the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark decision in favor of Attorney General Merrick Garland in the case of Byte Dance Inc. and TikTok v. Merrick Garland. The ruling mandates that ByteDance, TikTok’s China-based parent company, divest its U.S. operations by January 19, 2025, or face a nationwide ban of the app. CFU strongly supports this decision as a critical step in addressing national security concerns posed by the Chinese government’s access to American data.
This decision stems from growing concerns over ByteDance’s Chinese Communist Party (CCP)-controlled ownership of TikTok. The Chinese government weaponizes mobile data and surveillance to target Uyghurs in its high-tech genocide. In one week in 2017, the Integrated Joint Operations Platform (IJOP), an AI-driven surveillance system, flagged 24,412 Uyghur individuals as “suspicious” for using popular mobile apps. Within that same week, 15,683 individuals were arrested and sent to concentration camps. The CCP’s access to American data—keystrokes, locations, and contacts—poses a grave threat to national security. During the January 10th hearing, U.S. Solicitor General Prelogar presented evidence that ByteDance tracked Uyghurs, Hong Kong dissidents, and U.S. journalists at the request of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), highlighting the severe risks to vulnerable populations and human rights advocates.
In support of the legislation, CFU partnered with Thayer, P.L.L.C., and other allies to file amicus briefs before the Supreme Court and the D.C. Circuit Court. Additionally, CFU initiated a joint letter to the Senate, signed by the leaders of 39 organizations, urging the passage of the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act. These collective efforts have underscored the dangers posed by CCP-linked apps like TikTok in enabling surveillance and transnational repression.
Rushan Abbas, Executive Director of CFU commented on the Supreme Court ruling, stating: “This decision is a strong step taken by the U.S. government to protect its citizens. As Uyghurs, we have firsthand experience with the CCP’s weaponization of mobile data to track, surveil, and oppress our people. Recognizing the threats, we advocate to ensure that the American people are safeguarded from similar risks.”
CFU remains committed to promoting policies and initiatives that mitigate risks to personal freedoms and uphold ethical standards in technology usage. We urge stakeholders to take decisive action to protect human rights threatened by the CCP.
