Biden and Trump Explore Options to Preserve TikTok Amid Ban Threat
As a TikTok ban looms, Biden and Trump consider ways to maintain access to the app while addressing national security concerns.
Technology
Mostly Reliable
Summary
With a TikTok ban deadline approaching, both President Biden's administration and President-elect Trump are exploring options to preserve the app's availability. Trump's national security adviser nominee, Mike Waltz, stated Trump aims to negotiate a resolution. Meanwhile, the Biden administration is considering how to avoid an immediate shutdown of TikTok, following recent Supreme Court hearings on national security concerns related to its Chinese ownership. Influencer sentiments and user migrations to alternative apps reflect rising tensions around privacy, data security, and free speech.
Informed by:
From the Left
TikTok is preparing to cease operations in the US due to an imminent ban, highlighting the urgency of national security concerns amid bipartisan fears about data privacy and foreign influence.
The Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act reflects a growing consensus about TikTok's potential risks, as Congress acknowledges the app's connection to Chinese data practices and propaganda efforts.
Despite previous bipartisan agreements regarding TikTok, ongoing negotiations and discussions about a possible delay in the ban suggest a complex political landscape surrounding the issue.
Informed by:
From the Right
The potential Supreme Court ruling in favor of TikTok's divestment law underscores bipartisan concerns regarding national security, especially amidst revelations of the Chinese Communist Party viewing TikTok as a tool for propaganda and psychological warfare against Americans.
Recent data privacy concerns have galvanized lawmakers and experts, suggesting that the rapid adoption of apps with fewer safeguards, like RedNote, might present a graver risk than TikTok, reinforcing the belief that Americans must be cautious about their data security.
The contrasting opinions on TikTok underscore a larger debate about free speech versus the looming threat from foreign influence, as evidenced by China's military strategies to use platforms like TikTok for cultural and ideological manipulation of American youth.
Informed by:
Highlights (21)
The conflicting stances of President-elect Trump and President Biden on TikTok highlight the complexities surrounding the app's future and its significant role in the American digital landscape, revealing the challenges of balancing national security with the desires of millions of users.
TikTok ban update: Trump considers executive order as Biden weighs options
Newsweek
·CenterThe underlying sources generally maintain reliability but have, at times, included opinion pieces, propaganda, or minor inaccuracies. While typically factual, there may be occasional editorialization or subjective interpretation.Mostly Reliable
Donald Trump's consideration to suspend the enforcement of the TikTok ban reflects his intention to navigate complex legal and political waters, aiming for a resolution that keeps the platform operational while addressing data security concerns.
Donald Trump reportedly weighing up TikTok ban delay
The Guardian
·Leans LeftThe underlying sources consistently report facts with minimal bias. They demonstrate high-quality journalism and accuracy across multiple articles.Reliable
Trump's pivot from advocating a ban on TikTok to seeking ways to preserve the app highlights his recognition of its political value and the complexities surrounding national security risks.
Trump plans to ‘save’ TikTok from looming US ban
Al Jazeera
·Leans LeftThe underlying sources consistently report facts with minimal bias. They demonstrate high-quality journalism and accuracy across multiple articles.Reliable
The evolving stance of President-elect Trump on TikTok reflects a keen awareness of its significant role in engaging a younger audience and the necessity to navigate national security concerns while maintaining popular support.
Trump adviser says president-elect is exploring options to 'preserve' TikTok
ABC News
·CenterThe underlying sources consistently report facts with minimal bias. They demonstrate high-quality journalism and accuracy across multiple articles.Reliable
The potential TikTok ban reflects deeper national security concerns, highlighting the ongoing battle over digital sovereignty and the influence of foreign-owned applications in the U.S. market.
TikTok ban: What happens to the app after Sunday’s deadline?
The Hill
·CenterThe underlying sources consistently report facts with minimal bias. They demonstrate high-quality journalism and accuracy across multiple articles.Reliable
The situation highlights a significant gap in the market for a true TikTok replacement, as emerging apps may attract users but ultimately struggle to match TikTok's unique appeal and algorithm.
CNN
·Leans LeftThe underlying sources consistently report facts with minimal bias. They demonstrate high-quality journalism and accuracy across multiple articles.Reliable
The Biden administration is in a precarious position as it wrestles with the implications of a TikTok ban, reflecting a broader struggle over technology, national security, and the delicate balance of power between competing political forces.
Biden administration looks for ways to keep TikTok available in the U.S.
CNBC
·CenterThe underlying sources consistently report facts with minimal bias. They demonstrate high-quality journalism and accuracy across multiple articles.Reliable
The desperate bid to save TikTok reflects the challenging balancing act facing the incoming Trump administration between appeasing a vast user base and addressing legitimate security concerns.
Reports: Trump considering executive order to try to rescue TikTok from sell-or-ban law
USA TODAY
·CenterThe underlying sources consistently report facts with minimal bias. They demonstrate high-quality journalism and accuracy across multiple articles.Reliable
The Biden administration's apparent willingness to explore ways to keep TikTok accessible in the U.S. reflects a significant shift in approach, demonstrating both political pressure and the complexities surrounding national security and free speech.
Biden administration looks for ways to keep TikTok available in the U.S.
NBC News
·CenterThe underlying sources consistently report facts with minimal bias. They demonstrate high-quality journalism and accuracy across multiple articles.Reliable
Trump's evolving stance on TikTok reflects a pragmatic approach, recognizing the platform's significance in engaging with younger voters and the potential for negotiation rather than outright bans.
Trump adviser says president-elect is exploring options to “preserve” TikTok
Boston Herald
·Leans RightThe underlying sources generally maintain reliability but have, at times, included opinion pieces, propaganda, or minor inaccuracies. While typically factual, there may be occasional editorialization or subjective interpretation.Mostly Reliable
Trump's newfound embrace of TikTok reflects a strategic pivot, recognizing the platform's value not only as a popular app among Americans but also as a powerful tool for his campaign to engage with younger voters.
Trump adviser says president-elect is exploring options to 'preserve' TikTok
Associated Press
·CenterThe underlying sources consistently report facts with minimal bias. They demonstrate high-quality journalism and accuracy across multiple articles.Reliable
The CCP's view of TikTok as a Trojan horse weapon should definitively end any debate about its future in the U.S.; if Beijing refuses to divest, then a ban is the only plausible course of action.
Exclusive—Peter Schweizer: Why Beijing Wants Americans to Keep Using TikTok
Breitbart News
·RightThe underlying sources have a mixed track record. They provide accurate information in some cases but are known to inject bias, sensationalism, or incomplete reporting. Read these stories cautiously and cross-check claims when possible.Mixed Reliable
The potential ban of TikTok looms large, reflecting broader concerns about censorship and the implications for American users, while the scramble among wealthy investors to acquire the platform underscores its immense cultural and economic significance.
Business Insider
·CenterThe underlying sources consistently report facts with minimal bias. They demonstrate high-quality journalism and accuracy across multiple articles.Reliable
As the Jan. 19 deadline for TikTok's potential ban looms, users are bracing for a major shift in their digital habits, with the fate of their beloved app hanging in the balance and a scramble for new alternatives on the horizon.
Where to Go After the TikTok Ban? Here Are the 8 Best Alternatives
Rolling Stone
·LeftThe underlying sources have a mixed track record. They provide accurate information in some cases but are known to inject bias, sensationalism, or incomplete reporting. Read these stories cautiously and cross-check claims when possible.Mixed Reliable
The looming ban on TikTok raises concerns not only about the app's impact on American businesses but also about the broader implications for free speech and access to digital platforms in the U.S.
New York Sun
·RightThe underlying sources have a mixed track record. They provide accurate information in some cases but are known to inject bias, sensationalism, or incomplete reporting. Read these stories cautiously and cross-check claims when possible.Mixed Reliable
The effort to ban TikTok, driven by concerns over Chinese government surveillance, has only fueled young Americans' defiance and sparked a willingness to adopt another Chinese app, demonstrating a dismissive attitude towards the very warnings meant to protect them.
The Blaze
·RightThe underlying sources generally maintain reliability but have, at times, included opinion pieces, propaganda, or minor inaccuracies. While typically factual, there may be occasional editorialization or subjective interpretation.Mostly Reliable
The looming ban on TikTok is not just a matter of national security but a concerning trend that threatens free speech and the very fabric of communication for millions of users.
So...is TikTok really getting banned?
Reason
·CenterThe underlying sources generally maintain reliability but have, at times, included opinion pieces, propaganda, or minor inaccuracies. While typically factual, there may be occasional editorialization or subjective interpretation.Mostly Reliable
The impending TikTok ban highlights the tangled intersection of national security concerns and the rights of millions of American users to access the platform they enjoy.
TikTok plans for Sunday shutdown, US employees to stay on payroll after ban
Straight Arrow News
·CenterThe underlying sources consistently report facts with minimal bias. They demonstrate high-quality journalism and accuracy across multiple articles.Reliable
The alarming rise of RedNote among US users amid the TikTok ban raises serious concerns about the app's cybersecurity and privacy risks, potentially endangering American users more than its predecessor.
New York Post
·Leans RightThe underlying sources generally maintain reliability but have, at times, included opinion pieces, propaganda, or minor inaccuracies. While typically factual, there may be occasional editorialization or subjective interpretation.Mostly Reliable
The embrace of RedNote by American teens reflects a concerning trend of willingly stepping into another layer of Chinese influence, seemingly oblivious to the risks involved.
Think TikTok’s Bad? Check Out The Latest Chinese App Driving American Kids Wild
Daily Caller
·RightThe underlying sources have a mixed track record. They provide accurate information in some cases but are known to inject bias, sensationalism, or incomplete reporting. Read these stories cautiously and cross-check claims when possible.Mixed Reliable
The influx of American users to RedNote reflects a complex yet intriguing willingness to engage in cultural exchange, even as concerns about data privacy and censorship loom large.
What to know about RedNote, the Chinese app that American TikTokkers are flooding
NPR
·CenterThe underlying sources consistently report facts with minimal bias. They demonstrate high-quality journalism and accuracy across multiple articles.Reliable