Texas Rancher Among TikTok Creators Suing U.S. Government Over Potential Ban

Eight TikTok creators, including a Texas rancher, sue the U.S. government over a potential nationwide ban, citing First Amendment violations.

Eight TikTok content creators, including a Texas-based rancher, filed a lawsuit against the U.S. government on Tuesday, challenging a new federal law that threatens to ban the popular social media platform nationwide unless its China-based parent company, ByteDance, sells its stakes within a year.

The lawsuit, representing a diverse group of creators, argues that the law violates their First Amendment rights to free speech. This legal challenge echoes similar arguments made by TikTok in a separate lawsuit filed last week. The case could potentially reach the Supreme Court.

Among the plaintiffs is Brian Firebaugh, a rancher from Hubbard, Texas, who leveraged TikTok to build his brand and market cattle-related products, amassing over 430,000 followers. Firebaugh credits TikTok for enabling him to quit his full-time job and support his family. “One hundred percent of our customers come from TikTok,” he said, emphasizing the platform’s critical role in his livelihood.

The creators’ lawsuit seeks a declaration that the law is unconstitutional and an order preventing Attorney General Merrick Garland from enforcing it. As the legal battle unfolds, it underscores the broader geopolitical tensions between the U.S. and China and the significant impact on individuals relying on TikTok for expression and livelihood.