TikTok Hearing: Influencers make their case to the press
1 year, 9 months ago

TikTok Hearing: Influencers make their case to the press

Slate  

This week, TikTok came to Washington for what turned out to be a public flogging. In December, Sen. Marco Rubio introduced legislation to ban the Chinese-owned platform from the country altogether, and now the Biden administration is threatening to boot the app if ByteDance does not sell TikTok’s U.S. operations to a domestic owner. “If there were to be a ban, I would lose a major source of income and a major source of community—not just for my business but for my life.” On the eve of the congressional hearing she told me, “I’m trying not to think about tomorrow.” Another TikTokker I met was Aidan Kohn-Murphy, the founder of a progressive advocacy group called Gen-Z for Change, who highlighted the uniqueness of the TikTok algorithm and how he feels it prioritizes authenticity. Some members of Congress made plain how concerned they are that TikTok’s Chinese owners could abuse the platform for nefarious ends. When I first heard that TikTok would be “flooding D.C. with influencers,” my mind inevitably jumped to the Charli D’Amelio or brand ambassador archetype.

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History of this topic

Potential TikTok bidder seeks a CEO, prepares business overhaul
3 days, 22 hours ago

Potential TikTok bidder seeks a CEO, prepares business overhaul

The Hindu  

U.S. billionaire businessman Frank McCourt is crafting a fundamental overhaul of TikTok's business model as part of a plan to bid for the Chinese-owned short-form video app, he told Reuters. McCourt, who formerly owned the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team, said he has received verbal funding commitments totaling $20 billion from a consortium of investors to rescue the app from …

TikTok gets big boost from US Supreme Court
Trending News
5 days, 2 hours ago

TikTok gets big boost from US Supreme Court

China Daily  

The US Supreme Court has thrown a significant roadblock in the path of a new law that would ban the wildly popular TikTok app throughout the United States. By now, you may likely know the backstory about TikTok: Earlier this year, members of the US Congress authored and passed legislation that was quickly signed by US President Joe Biden, which …

TikTok is a go-to news source for young people. Legacy media wants in.
1 week, 1 day ago

TikTok is a go-to news source for young people. Legacy media wants in.

Live Mint  

Fox News chief foreign correspondent Trey Yingst has his routine down when reporting from Tel Aviv, or Kyiv, or Beirut: He clears his throat, looks into the camera and records a segment for the news network. “By using social media, I’m able to connect with a younger audience that may not traditionally be watching cable news and get them interested …

TikTok is inching closer to a potential ban in the US. So what’s next?
Trending News
2 weeks, 4 days ago

TikTok is inching closer to a potential ban in the US. So what’s next?

Associated Press  

TikTok’s future in the U.S. appeared uncertain on Friday after a federal appeals court rejected a legal challenge to a law that requires the social media platform to cut ties with its China-based parent company or be banned by mid-January. The appeals court ruling, written by Judge Douglas Ginsburg, said the law was “carefully crafted to deal only with control …

The Future of TikTok Is Being Decided This Week
2 weeks, 5 days ago

The Future of TikTok Is Being Decided This Week

Wired  

Republicans and Democrats sank ungodly amounts of money into creating content for TikTok this election year, but there’s a chance the app might not be around in the US come next cycle. The law put in place a system that would ban TikTok if the app’s parent company, Bytedance, didn’t sell to a US-based owner by January 19, 2025. Soon, …

From “satisfactory” to “problematic”: How Congress crushed free speech in 2024
3 weeks, 1 day ago

From “satisfactory” to “problematic”: How Congress crushed free speech in 2024

Salon  

A 2024 Pew Research Center poll found that a remarkable 73 percent of adult Americans believe a free press is either extremely or very important to the well-being of society—though only a third of those polled believe that US media are completely free to report news. Citing reports by the Associated Press and the Columbia Journalism Review, the Pew Research …

TikTok defends handling of Romania election content in grilling by EU lawmakers
3 weeks, 1 day ago

TikTok defends handling of Romania election content in grilling by EU lawmakers

LA Times  

Calin Georgescu, a far-right independent candidate for president who came in first after the first round of Romania’s presidential election, prepares to vote Sunday in the country’s parliamentary election. TikTok applied its “global playbook” for the Romanian election and took a local approach with staff on the ground, said Caroline Greer, the company’s top lobbyist in the EU. Greer said …

Court upholds a U.S. ban on TikTok
3 weeks, 2 days ago

Court upholds a U.S. ban on TikTok

NPR  

Court upholds a U.S. ban on TikTok toggle caption Drew Angerer/Getty Images A federal appeals court on Friday upheld a law banning TikTok nationwide unless the viral video app was sold off by its China-based parent company, rejecting TikTok's claim that the crackdown violates the free speech rights of millions of Americans. In its ruling, the court said that it …

TikTok seeking Musk's advice ahead of potential ban in the US, incoming Trump administration
1 month ago

TikTok seeking Musk's advice ahead of potential ban in the US, incoming Trump administration

Firstpost  

The US administration, under outgoing President Joe Biden, had been raising alarms that TikTok could be compelled to share user data with the Chinese government. Leadership at TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, a Chinese tech firm, views Musk as a potential intermediary to the incoming administration. TikTok’s troubles in the US The US administration, under outgoing President Joe Biden, had been …

Trump wanted to ban TikTok. Will his return to office help save it?
1 month ago

Trump wanted to ban TikTok. Will his return to office help save it?

LA Times  

The fate of TikTok in the U.S. has been up in the air since 2020, when then-President Trump moved to ban the popular video app because of national security concerns. One hitch: Trump recently changed his mind, joining TikTok in June and posting on social media, “Those who want to save TikTok in America, vote for Trump.” “We’re not doing …

Canada orders TikTok's Canadian business to be dissolved but won't block app
1 month, 2 weeks ago

Canada orders TikTok's Canadian business to be dissolved but won't block app

New Indian Express  

TikTok is wildly popular with young people, but its Chinese ownership has raised fears that Beijing could use it to collect data on Western users or push pro-China narratives and misinformation. TikTok faces intensifying scrutiny from Europe and America over security and data privacy. Canada previously banned TikTok from all government-issued mobile devices. Michael Geist, Canada research chair in Internet …

TikTok Employees Shrug Off the US Election
1 month, 2 weeks ago

TikTok Employees Shrug Off the US Election

Wired  

TikTok is one of the tech companies that could be most impacted by the outcome of the US elections. “There’s little you can do as an ordinary employee, and everyone thinks that way, so the result is business as usual.” WIRED talked to half a dozen employees at TikTok and its parent company ByteDance on the condition of anonymity, and …

D.C. and more than a dozen states sue TikTok
2 months, 2 weeks ago

D.C. and more than a dozen states sue TikTok

NPR  

D.C. and more than a dozen states sue TikTok NPR's Juana Summers talks with D.C. AG Brian Schwalb about the new lawsuit against TikTok alleging that the social media platform causes harm to kids and operates in an illegal virtual economy. D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb is in the studio with me to talk more about this new lawsuit against …

Poll: More turning to TikTok for news in US
3 months, 1 week ago

Poll: More turning to TikTok for news in US

China Daily  

Small toy figures are seen in front of TikTok logo in this illustration picture taken March 15, 2021. About 4 in 10 young adults in the US now regularly get news on TikTok, according to a Pew Research Center analysis published on Tuesday. Today, 39 percent of adults under 30 say they regularly get news on TikTok, compared with shares …

TikTok to begin appeal against possible US ban
3 months, 1 week ago

TikTok to begin appeal against possible US ban

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy TikTok will go head-to-head with …

TikTok disputes U.S. claims on China ties in court appeal
4 months, 1 week ago

TikTok disputes U.S. claims on China ties in court appeal

The Hindu  

TikTok told a federal appeals court on Thursday that the U.S. Department of Justice has mis-stated the social media app's ties to China, urging the court to overturn a law requiring China-based ByteDance to sell TikTok's U.S. assets or face a ban. TikTok said on Thursday it is undisputed that the app's content recommendation engine and user data are stored …

TikTok fights for survival in latest filing as ban approaches
4 months, 1 week ago

TikTok fights for survival in latest filing as ban approaches

NPR  

TikTok fights for survival in latest filing as ban approaches toggle caption Damian Dovarganes/AP TikTok is fighting back in its latest court filing in the battle over its future in the U.S., arguing that the law that could ban the app represents "the most sweeping speech restriction in the country's history." The court filing on Thursday is the latest salvo …

US Govt Lawyers Say TikTok Collected User Data Around Specific Subjects: All Details
4 months, 3 weeks ago

US Govt Lawyers Say TikTok Collected User Data Around Specific Subjects: All Details

News 18  

WASHINGTON: In a fresh broadside against one of the world’s most popular technology companies, the Justice Department is accusing TikTok of harnessing the capability to gather bulk information on users based on views on divisive social issues like gun control, abortion and religion. TikTok employees used Lark to send sensitive data about U.S. users, information that has wound up being …

TikTok Has a Nazi Problem
4 months, 3 weeks ago

TikTok Has a Nazi Problem

Wired  

Neo-Nazis and white supremacists are sharing Hitler-related propaganda and trying to recruit new members on TikTok, according to a new report from the Institute for Strategic Dialogue shared exclusively with WIRED. The report from ISD details how hundreds of extremist TikTok accounts are openly posting videos promoting Holocaust denial and the glorification of Hitler and Nazi-era Germany, and suggesting that …

TikTok collected user views on abortion and gun control, U.S. Justice Department says
4 months, 3 weeks ago

TikTok collected user views on abortion and gun control, U.S. Justice Department says

The Hindu  

In a fresh broadside against one of the world’s most popular technology companies, the Justice Department is accusing TikTok of harnessing the capability to gather bulk information on users based on views on divisive social issues like gun control, abortion and religion. TikTok employees used Lark to send sensitive data about U.S. users, information that has wound up being stored …

TikTok collected views of US users on abortion, gun control: Justice Department
4 months, 3 weeks ago

TikTok collected views of US users on abortion, gun control: Justice Department

India Today  

In a fresh broadside against one of the world’s most popular technology companies, the Justice Department is accusing TikTok of harnessing the capability to gather bulk information on users based on views on divisive social issues like gun control, abortion and religion. TikTok employees used Lark to send sensitive data about US users, information that has wound up being stored …

US Government Accuses TikTok Of Collecting User Views On Issues Like Abortion And Gun Control
4 months, 3 weeks ago

US Government Accuses TikTok Of Collecting User Views On Issues Like Abortion And Gun Control

News 18  

In a fresh broadside against one of the world’s most popular technology companies, the Justice Department late Friday accused TikTok of harnessing the capability to gather bulk information on users based on views on divisive social issues like gun control, abortion and religion. TikTok employees used Lark to send sensitive data about U.S. users, information that has wound up being …

Justice Department says TikTok collected US user views on issues like abortion and gun control
4 months, 3 weeks ago

Justice Department says TikTok collected US user views on issues like abortion and gun control

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — In a fresh broadside against one of the world’s most popular technology companies, the Justice Department is accusing TikTok of harnessing the capability to gather bulk information on users based on views on divisive social issues like gun control, abortion and religion. TikTok employees used Lark to send sensitive data about U.S. users, information that has wound up …

Justice Department says TikTok collected U.S. user views on issues like abortion and gun control
4 months, 4 weeks ago

Justice Department says TikTok collected U.S. user views on issues like abortion and gun control

LA Times  

The Justice Department has made new accusations against TikTok, which is owned by Beijing-based parent company ByteDance. In a fresh broadside against one of the world’s most popular technology companies, the Justice Department has accused TikTok of harnessing the capability to gather bulk information on users based on their views about divisive social issues such as gun control, abortion and …

This country banned TikTok. What became of its influencers?
5 months, 2 weeks ago

This country banned TikTok. What became of its influencers?

LA Times  

Is there life after TikTok? “When it got banned, I had nothing,” recalled Gaurav Jain, who was one of the country’s more than 200 million TikTok users. “I don’t think the average TikTok user has synthesized in their brain that this is going away,” said Lawrence Vincent, associate professor of the practice of marketing at USC’s Marshall School of Business. …

The side-effects of the TikTok tussle
6 months, 1 week ago

The side-effects of the TikTok tussle

Hindustan Times  

JOE BIDEN’S re-election campaign wants you to know that the president is funny. It deems TikTok, which is owned by ByteDance, a Chinese firm, to be controlled by a “foreign adversary” and to be a national-security threat. They argue that divestment is “simply not possible” and Congress is “singling out and banning TikTok”, in violation of the First Amendment rights …

TikTok cyberattack targets CNN, Paris Hilton and other high-profile accounts
6 months, 2 weeks ago

TikTok cyberattack targets CNN, Paris Hilton and other high-profile accounts

LA Times  

TikTok is investigating a cyberattack targeting “a number of high-profile” accounts, including media outlet CNN and celebrity Paris Hilton. In particular, a TikTok spokesperson said, the company has been “collaborating closely with CNN to restore account access and implement enhanced security measures” after the news organization was targeted on the app by “malicious actors.” “We are dedicated to maintaining the …

U.K. parties face-off on TikTok battleground
6 months, 3 weeks ago

U.K. parties face-off on TikTok battleground

The Hindu  

On the face of it, the villain from "Shrek", British singer-turned-TV presenter Cilla Black, and national service has nothing in common. One Labour TikTok post uses a clip from the movie "Shrek" showing the diminutive villain Lord Farquaad saying "Some of you may die, but it's a sacrifice I am willing to make". Currently ahead of both the Tories and …

US activists worry about ‘losing major asset’ TikTok as potential ban looms
6 months, 3 weeks ago

US activists worry about ‘losing major asset’ TikTok as potential ban looms

Al Jazeera  

Recent decisions by US gov’t and platforms have made organising on TikTok and Instagram much harder for activists. For the last two years, he’s used TikTok and Instagram as a means to spread the word about climate marches and real-life ways people can get involved and fight to take on climate change. Limits on Meta and X The US government’s …

What’s behind the anti-Biden ‘wildfire’ among TikTok influencers
6 months, 3 weeks ago

What’s behind the anti-Biden ‘wildfire’ among TikTok influencers

LA Times  

President Biden has been courting Kahlil Greene and other young TikTok influencers since taking office, inviting them to celebrations at the White House and policy briefings on Zoom, where Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris have been known to pop in. Biden’s reputation on TikTok was dismal in the summer of 2020, according to Daniel Daks, who consulted for the …

TikTok curbs state-affiliated media amid foreign influence fears
7 months ago

TikTok curbs state-affiliated media amid foreign influence fears

Al Jazeera  

Video-sharing app says state-backed accounts will not be recommended or allowed to advertise outside home countries. TikTok, the popular video-sharing app, has announced new curbs on state-affiliated media amid concerns about foreign interference in a major election year. The Chinese-owned platform said on Thursday that state-affiliated media accounts would no longer be recommended in users’ feeds or allowed to advertise …

TikTok creators sue U.S. government in a bid to stop potential ban
7 months, 1 week ago

TikTok creators sue U.S. government in a bid to stop potential ban

LA Times  

Eight TikTok creators sued the U.S. government on Tuesday, alleging their rights to free speech are being violated by a new federal law that would ban the social video app if its Chinese owner doesn’t sell it. U.S. politicians have raised security concerns about the app, saying that TikTok’s ties to its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, could allow a foreign …

TikTok content creators sue the U.S. government over law that could ban the popular platform
7 months, 1 week ago

TikTok content creators sue the U.S. government over law that could ban the popular platform

The Hindu  

Eight TikTok content creators sued the U.S. Government on May 14, issuing another challenge to the new federal law that would ban the popular social media platform nationwide if its China-based parent company doesn’t sell its stakes within a year. Attorneys for the creators argued in the lawsuit that the law violates users’ First Amendment rights to free speech, echoing …

L.A. influencers, businesses live or die on TikTok’s algorithm. Now they fear for the future
7 months, 2 weeks ago

L.A. influencers, businesses live or die on TikTok’s algorithm. Now they fear for the future

LA Times  

Brandon Hurst is known as Brandon the Plant Guy on TikTok. “What makes TikTok special is the algorithm,” Hurst said, noting that if TikTok’s owners sell the app, the algorithm could change. “A lot of people have scaled probably beyond their wildest dreams.” Influencers don’t need to own a business to make money on TikTok, one creator said. For small-business …

Most Americans see TikTok as a Chinese influence tool,...
7 months, 3 weeks ago

Most Americans see TikTok as a Chinese influence tool,...

Daily Mail  

By Jason Lange and David Shepardson WASHINGTON, May 1 - - A majority of Americans believe that China uses TikTok to shape U.S. public opinion, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted as Washington moves closer to potentially banning the Chinese-owned short-video app. Some 58% of respondents to the two-day poll, which closed on Tuesday, agreed with a statement that the …

The TikTok law kicks off a new showdown between Beijing and Washington. What’s coming next?
7 months, 4 weeks ago

The TikTok law kicks off a new showdown between Beijing and Washington. What’s coming next?

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — TikTok is gearing up for a legal fight against a U.S. law that would force the social media platform to break ties with its China-based parent company, a move almost certainly backed by Chinese authorities as the bitter U.S.-China rivalry threatens the future of a wildly popular way for young people in America to connect online. Beijing has …

The TikTok Ultimatum Is Here. What Does It Mean?
54 years, 11 months ago

The TikTok Ultimatum Is Here. What Does It Mean?

Wired  

Makena Kelly: The Washington Post said that he had a lot to do with RFK Jr.'s TikTok content, but he was doing this content way, way, way before Link was even ever involved. Even media outlets get excited about the campaign because they know people are going to cover it and they know people are going to want to get …

Joe Biden accused of hypocrisy over signing of TikTok ban bill, critics ask him to delete campaign account
7 months, 4 weeks ago

Joe Biden accused of hypocrisy over signing of TikTok ban bill, critics ask him to delete campaign account

Hindustan Times  

US President Joe Biden on Wednesday signed a bill that would potentially force Chinese TikTok parent firm ByteDance to divest the social media platform within nine months or face a nationwide ban in the country. Biden campaign will continue to use TikTok, faces backlash According to Biden's 2024 reelection campaign, it would keep using TikTok to engage voters ahead of …

U.S. President Biden signs bill that will see TikTok sold or banned next year
7 months, 4 weeks ago

U.S. President Biden signs bill that will see TikTok sold or banned next year

The Hindu  

U.S. President Joe Biden on Wednesday signed a bill forcing TikTok’s Chinese parent ByteDance to divest ownership of the app or see it banned in the next nine months, extendable by another three months if needed. Last year, several U.S. states began banning TikTok in government employees’ work devices, though sweeping bans on private usage were not successful in court. …

Bill to ban TikTok in U.S. clears Congress
8 months ago

Bill to ban TikTok in U.S. clears Congress

Raw Story  

The US Senate on Tuesday approved legislation requiring the wildly popular social media app TikTok to be divested from its Chinese parent company ByteDance or be shut out of the American market. The measure was part of a $95 billion foreign aid package, including military assistance to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, which has now cleared Congress and heads to President …

This Is the Beginning of the End of TikTok
54 years, 11 months ago

This Is the Beginning of the End of TikTok

Wired  

TikTok might not be around much longer in the US. “Even as our social media platforms have fumbled in their response to foreign influence operations, there was never any concern that these platforms are operating at the direction of foreign adversaries,” Mark Warner, chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said ahead of the vote on Tuesday. Last month, the House …

TikTok star urges US to force sale after witnessing 'terrifying' algorithm amid Israel-Palestine war
8 months ago

TikTok star urges US to force sale after witnessing 'terrifying' algorithm amid Israel-Palestine war

Hindustan Times  

Imagine speaking out against the platform that enables you to earn a living. This comes on the heels of White House representatives passing a bill that could lead to a permanent TikTok ban in America. White House passes the bill, threatens to ban TikTok The world’s most popular musical video service, which has been accused of spreading ‘Hamas hate speech …

Lawmakers vote to ban TikTok, again — solidifying Congress’ stance by giving the company more time
8 months ago

Lawmakers vote to ban TikTok, again — solidifying Congress’ stance by giving the company more time

Salon  

The House passed legislation on Saturday that could ban TikTok in the United States if its Chinese parent ByteDance Ltd, doesn’t divest its ownership within the year. The House Republicans' decision to include TikTok in a larger foreign aid package has been a priority to President Biden with widespread congressional support for Ukraine and Israel. TikTok is not pleased with …

Legislation that could force a TikTok ban revived as part of House foreign aid package
8 months ago

Legislation that could force a TikTok ban revived as part of House foreign aid package

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — Legislation that could ban TikTok in the U.S. if its China-based owner doesn’t sell its stake won a major boost late Wednesday when House Republican leaders included it in a package of bills that would send aid to Ukraine and Israel. Alex Haurek, a spokesman for the company, said in a statement Thursday that “It is unfortunate that …

The Biden administration might ban TikTok. These Latinx small-business owners are worried
8 months, 1 week ago

The Biden administration might ban TikTok. These Latinx small-business owners are worried

LA Times  

After years of dreaming, Ruben Trujillo had finally launched his own business. According to a recent study conducted by consulting firm Oxford Economics and funded by TikTok, 43% of Latinx entrepreneurs said the social media platform is critical to their business’ existence. Jaz and Sam Sears of AZ Taco King — a Mexican restaurant chain in Arizona — said that …

TikTok ban bill update: Why Donald Trump and the Club for Growth are killing it.
8 months, 3 weeks ago

TikTok ban bill update: Why Donald Trump and the Club for Growth are killing it.

Slate  

Only a couple of resounding things came from the 2024 Republican presidential debate cycle: that none of its participants would be this year’s Republican presidential nominee, and that the party loathes TikTok. In early March, Trump spoke at a donor retreat for the powerful, conservative, and lavishly funded outside spending group Club for Growth, an organization that is one of …

TikTok is under investigation by the FTC over data practices and could face a lawsuit
8 months, 3 weeks ago

TikTok is under investigation by the FTC over data practices and could face a lawsuit

Associated Press  

NEW YORK — The Federal Trade Commission is investigating TikTok over its data and security practices, a probe that could lead to a settlement or a lawsuit against the company, according to a person familiar with the matter. The investigation is the latest battle in Washington for the social media company, which is already fighting against a federal bill that …

TikTok is under investigation by the FTC over data practices and could face a lawsuit
8 months, 4 weeks ago

TikTok is under investigation by the FTC over data practices and could face a lawsuit

New Indian Express  

NEW YORK: The Federal Trade Commission is investigating TikTok over its data and security practices, a probe that could lead to a settlement or a lawsuit against the company, according to a person familiar with the matter. The investigation is the latest battle in Washington for the social media company, which is already fighting against a federal bill that could …

Taiwan declares TikTok a national security threat
9 months ago

Taiwan declares TikTok a national security threat

Hindustan Times  

Taiwan's Minister of Digital Affairs, Audrey Tang, has declared TikTok, the social media platform owned by a China-based company, as a significant national security threat, Central News agency Taiwan reported. TikTok Inc. office Tang emphasised that the platform's association with foreign adversaries aligns with the United States' perspective, which deems TikTok a potential risk to national security. She explained that …

TikTok is turning its users into lobbyists, just like Uber did.
54 years, 11 months ago

TikTok is turning its users into lobbyists, just like Uber did.

Slate  

ByteDance, the Chinese company that owns TikTok, does not want Congress to force a sale of its crown jewel. As ByteDance throws every weapon it can against the bill, a key element of its strategy has emerged: deputize its army of TikTok “creators” to become informal lobbyists, asking them to plead the company’s case. “You’re giving a middle finger to …

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