TikTok says taking necessary measures after cyberattack targets several brand and celeb accounts

TikTok has again grabbed headlines after reports of cyberattacks targeting several brands and celebrity accounts, including news network CNN surfaced.

Following this, the short video platform on Tuesday (June 4) released a statement saying that the company was taking measures to safeguard the public accounts from the attack.

"We have taken measures to stop this attack and prevent it from happening in the future," the spokesperson said as per news agency AFP reports.

"We're working directly with affected account owners to restore access if needed."

TikTok said that the number of accounts compromised by the cyberattack which was carried out by "malicious actors" was "very small" and their team was working to help the users restore access to their respective accounts if required.

"We have been collaborating closely with CNN to restore account access and implement enhanced security measures to safeguard their account moving forward," the spokesperson said.

As per the news agency Reuters, reality TV star Paris Hilton's account was also targeted in the cyberattack, however, it wasn't compromised.

TikTok, ByteDance challenge potential US ban in court

TikTok and its parent firm ByteDance had on May 7 filed a legal challenge against the US targeting a bill signed by President Joe Biden that would push the app to either face a ban in the United States or to be sold.

The development came almost two weeks after Biden passed a law giving the popular short-form video hosting service an ultimatum of 270 days to find a non-Chinese buyer or face a ban in the country.

TikTok argues that the bill signed by the US president was unconstitutional.

"For the first time in history, Congress has enacted a law that subjects a single, named speech platform to a permanent, nationwide ban, and bars every American from participating in a unique online community with more than one billion people worldwide," said the suit by TikTok and ByteDance.

The short-video sharing platform also alleges that the move violates the First Amendment, charging that "Congress has made a law curtailing massive amounts of protected speech."

It further stated that the divestiture demanded for the short video app for it to be functional in the country is "simply not possible".

(With inputs from agencies)