President Trump recently announced that a new company would control TikTok’s powerful algorithm in the United States. Its owners include Larry Ellison’s Oracle, a U.A.E. AI company, and – wait for it – the platform’s Chinese Communist Party-controlled founder, Bytedance. TikTok’s Chinese CEO will serve on its Board of Directors.
How exactly this will work with respect to the CCP’s toxic weaponization of TikTok remains to be seen. The continuing involvement of Chinese nationals and the parent company is concerning. So is the fact that TikTok’s surveillance, propaganda and influence operations will persist outside the U.S. on platforms supposed to be seamlessly accessible to American users.
President Trump credits Chinese dictator Xi Jinping with approving this deal. Probably that’s because Xi’s sure the CCP will still be able to addict, disinform, manipulate and mobilize young Americans – and profit handsomely in the process.
This is Frank Gaffney.
I do not know what is so different from any social media platform getting our personal information. None of them treat it in the interest of customers. I get a dozen calls a day from unsolicited sources just to bother my day. I get junk mail that would make an elephant choke. There is no way to stop any of it. So, what difference is it if Tik Tok gets the information or any other predatory hypnotic tube monster? None of this is ever explained.
President Trump seems to be enamored with power individuals, be they Communist or Islamist. Accordingly, everyone is negotiable and forthright, takes everyone for their word, be it honest or dishonest, demonstrates his narcissism and ignorance, the power he has, justifies his lack of depth in knowledge. It’s ok to be stupid, if you’re the President.