In response to a new U.S. law demanding the sale or ban of TikTok, the social media platform alongside its parent company ByteDance, has filed a legal challenge arguing the law violates First Amendment rights and is based on vague national security concerns.
The case sets the stage for a high-stakes court battle, with ByteDance asserting that a forced sale of TikTok is impractical and unconstitutional, while the U.S. government contends that the app poses potential risks to national security and public opinion.
Faculty experts at the George Washington University are available to provide context, commentary and analysis on this matter. If you would like to speak to an expert, please contact GW Media Relations Specialist Tayah Frye at [email protected].
Politics
Sarah Binder is a professor of political science. Binder's work focuses on the politics of legislative institutions, including their origins, development and impact on policy outcomes. Her areas of expertise include Congress, Legislative politics, American political economy, and political parties.
Casey Burgat is the director of the Legislative Affairs program at the Graduate School of Political Management and host of its Mastering the Room podcast. Prior to joining GSPM, Burgat was a Senior Governance Fellow at the R Street Institute where his research focused on issues of congressional capacity and reform. Burgat co-authored Congress Explained: Representation and Lawmaking in the First Branch, a textbook on all things Congress.
Data Governance
Susan Ariel Aaronson, research professor of international affairs, is the director of the GW Digital Trade and Data Governance Hub. She is also co-PI at the NSF Trustworthy AI Institute, TRAILS, at GW, where leads research on data and AI governance. At the Hub, Aaronson currently directs projects on governing data for generative AI, ensuring that data is globally accurate, complete, and representative and on AI protectionism. The Hub is the only organization in the world that maps the governance of public, proprietary and personal data at the domestic and international levels. Overall, Aaronson’s research focuses on AI governance, data governance, international trade, competitiveness in data-driven services such as XR and AI and digital trade. She has been following the proposed TikTok ban closely.
Cybersecurity & National Security
Scott J. White is an associate professor and director of the GW Cybersecurity Program and Cyber Academy. He holds a Queen’s Commission and was an Officer with the Canadian Forces Intelligence Command. White was also an Officer with the Canadian Security Intelligence Service. In 2010, White joined MONAD Security Audit Systems as an Associate Consultant. Dr. White has consulted with a variety of law enforcement agencies in the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada. White’s expertise includes cybersecurity, cybercrime, counter-terrorism and infrastructure protection.
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