TikTok says it's restoring service to US users based on Trump's promised executive order
Trump announced the decision in a post on his Truth Social account on Sunday as millions of TikTok users in the U.S. awoke to discover they could no longer access the TikTok app or platform.
It was a got damn stunt, offc
The fix is in, and TikTok is now just another implement in Trump and Elon's disinformation machine. Crazy times, our country is literally being run by the top social media platforms.
The AP is supposed to be a neutral source, but they are decidedly right leaning.
There is clear, relevant reporting to be done on how odd the structure of all this is and that the app's self imposed shutdown message specifically praised trump, by name. They buried a photo of it, but I don't see direct text in the article discussing that. They also don't mention the fact that the CEO had been privately meeting with trump recently.
They say Biden had a part in the ban, though he said publicly he would not enforce it - what matters there, that AP doesn't mention, is that the republicans held humanitarian aide to Ukraine hostage back in April, saying they'd block unless the tick tok ban was passed. Laying the groundwork for this hollow attempt to "blame Biden" and position trump as a solution (to a problem he instigated and that republican think tanks engineered).
They do say the CEO will attend and have a "prime seating location" but not clarifying that the seats he'll be in are typically reserved for living past US presidents.
Fucking joke.
They say Biden had a part in the ban, though he said publicly he would not enforce it - what matters there, that AP doesn't mention, is that the republicans hello humanitarian aide to Ukraine hostage back in April, saying they'd block unless the rock you ban was passed. Laying the groundwork for this hollow attempt to "blame Biden" and position trunk as a solution (to a problem he instigated and that republican think tanks engineered).
You're making an important point here, but it's somewhat undermined by the fact that your rogue auto[in]correct needs to be taken out behind the barn and shot.
Ha, wonderful! Corrected, thanks for pointing that out.
Note: I had to manually correct the auto"correct" for just about every word on that small sentence above (and in this note)
So your defense of Biden signing the ban is that he had to because it was tied to arming far-right Nazis in Europe? And you think this is a good argument?
Oh boy...
Spreading for awareness, I've been posting this in relevant threads for a week - This is all theater.
trump was always going to "save" tik tok after starting the initial push to ban it (for the wrong reasons) to pretend he did something for you. Worst part is that all of the no/low info voters and non voters will eat it up.
It's the equivalent of a person pushing you into the middle of the street and at the very last second, that same person tells the drivers to all stop. "Wow, I owe you my life!"
And now, this adds two layers:
P.s. The Chinese "protest" apps that were downloaded are going to mine the FUCK out of these millions of phones in the brief window they have them. Also, when the kids inevitably move back to tiktok, majority of them will still leave these other apps installed on their phones, dormant and collecting indefinitely in the background.
Personally I would've gone with a Protection Racket metaphor.
People like you really don’t get it. You can’t wrap your head around people not caring about their data.
There are people DYING because they don’t have access to affordable healthcare. There are families forced to live in section 8 housing because they can’t afford to feed their family and have a place to live at the same time. Our children are DYING in school while the police sit outside and watch. WE DONT GIVE A FUCK ABOUT OUR DATA.
This whole debacle should infuriate every single American. 85% of congress voted to disenfranchise 150 MILLION Americans. These assholes can’t agree on anything but they can agree on this. It’s a travesty that our elected officials can spoon feed you some bullshit about China and you forget how they don’t care about you.
You don't realize how your data not being secure contributes to all of the problems you list.
I imagine the issue is that you think "your data" means that list of your "5 favorite types of hats" you posted yesterday or that mp3 of dogs barking happy birthday on your phone - yes, that is data, but it's not really what we're talking about here. Your data collectively, in a profile that is bought and sold, is like your DNA - it is the blueprint to exactly who you are, where/why you are weak and when/how to manipulate you.
I appreciate your passion, but your blind rage here is misplaced and frankly, your position is severely ignorant of the reality you're currently operating in, in several key areas. You also seem to have wholly constructed an adversarial relationship here where you try to frame me as in support of our Congress, I am not. I don't agree with how this bill was assembled, lobbied or passed in Congress. I do understand some of the nuance though, so I consider that. As I've said, after trump introduced a tiktok ban as a pure racist distraction without any actual substance, republican think tanks took the ball and engineered this situation as a trap, so they could attack either outcome from democrats (because they are feckless, grifting cowards). Key tactic within that strategy was when Republicans held Ukraine aid hostage on the condition that they wouldn't approve spend unless the tiktok bill was allowed as well. So Congress reluctantly passed it, and Biden signed it and then he made an official statement that he or his administration would not enforce it (essentially saying, we were forced into this bullshit). So at that point, you're talking about innocent human lives under an active terrorist attack from Russia in the balance.
Again, there's a lot here you don't understand it seems. I welcome you to breathe a bit, slow down and have a discussion. Happy to chat if you need.
And people like you don't get that the worsening of all those problems will only accelerate under Trump's corrupt plutocracy.
I'm not saying everything you're saying here is correct but, this is exactly how a lot of people I know feel. What the replies to your comments aren't understanding is that emotions are often stronger than facts. The average American has no idea how things work but they do know how they feel about them not working. That's the reason they all have no problem handing over all their data.
Note that the law does not prohibit TikTok from operating. It prohibits companies like Google and Apple from distributing it, and according to this article, they are in fact not distributing it.
Even as TikTok was flickering back on, it remained unavailable for download in Apple and Google’s app stores.
TikTok shut off voluntarily and that appears to have been an excellent PR move, but we won't know for certain until Trump does or doesn't do something about it in the next few days.
TikTok may trust Trump but Apple and Google are much better off acting like the law is in force and could be used against them.
TikTok also was and still is acting like the law is in force - the law does not require it to shut off. They aren't taking any legal risk.
It was a publicity stunt. That's manipulative as fuck. You can add them to the list of businesses in Trump's pocket.
Sec. 2) This division prohibits distributing, maintaining, updating, or providing internet hosting services for a foreign adversary controlled application (e.g., TikTok).
The "providing internet hosting services" seems like it could be an issue there
The law actually bans "providing internet hosting services to enable the distribution, maintenance, or updating of such foreign adversary controlled application for users within the land or maritime borders of the United States."
If Google and Apple aren't distributing, maintaining, or updating TikTok then it follows that nobody is providing internet hosting services enabling distribution, maintenance, or updating of TikTok.
Call me crazy but this feels all like a plan to push the Maga movement, first the "bad democrats" take away the "lovely" tiktok, then "good" trump brings back the beloved "noncensorship" tiktok because he "loves" freedom of speech or smth.
I don't really think that's the case. I mean, the democrats are idiots, sure, but why would they take part in the scheme when they know Trumps followers wanna line them up against the wall?
Because the Democrat politicians hold all the same stocks as the Republicans
He literally was the president at the time and he was the one that pushed for the ban. It's a matter of public record, not that that really matters anymore.
Because the Republicans tied aid to Ukraine to the Tik Tok ban. Democrats were forced to vote for it to continue to prevent the fall of a country fighting off an invasion.
I don't know why the Dems keep shooting themselves in the foot to further Republican goals but they seem to be pretty good at it.
There's no way GenZ can possibly be this stupid, right?
A lot voted trump, so yes?
Iceberg of stupidity. And it's not just genZ. It's Americans in general.
Lol
Gaza ceasefire and reversed TikTok ban. He's basically won over younger voters before he's even started.
It's as if plutocrats worldwide are teeing up fake wins to help Trump solidify his power because they see an opportunity to kill off liberalism once and for all.
I bet the new algorithm will be pushing push far right content to everyone just like Twitter and Meta, this was a stunt to silence the leftists.
This is more like, yet another PR flattery stunt, that Trump enjoyed in his first term too. Unclear that it means Tik Tok is going to help him get a 3rd term, or censor criticism of him.
Can you walk me through that? You think that Trump’s team coordinated with Biden to make him sign the ban for Trump’s benefit?
That's totally not fishy at all
The only way his ban evasion will work is if they find a buyer in 90 days
Or Trump keeps extending it or the newly formed Congress rolls back the law or the corrupt Supreme Court changes its mind or or or.
They entire US government is a game of oligarchic Calvinball.
Tomorrow Trump becomes the commander in cheif of the executive branch, the branch explicitly in charge of enforcing the law. The concept of salutary neglect is not new to America, and I don't think much could stop him if he decided to simply not enforce the law as written. As you point out, it would not be the first time the country played by it's own rules made up on the spot.
Uhhh, Trump is literally the executive.
He just commands the FCC or other authorities to ignore TikTok. He can extend this ban evasion for all 4 years if he wants.
Congress and Supreme Court do not control the executive powers. The President does.
As long as he can make money off of tiktok (either through videos or bribes) he'll keep extending it.
I dunno if app stores are gonna bring it back though.
The law stipulates like, ridiculously massive (seriously like $5k PER USER) fines for hosting it. I dunno if a legally-dubious pinky promise from Trump will be enough for them.
That's only really a problem for iOS users though. For Android users, you can just load the APK onto the phone and go.
This story has lots more to run. Trump is giving them a 90 day reprieve but hes going to try and extract something from them.
I suspect he will still try and get them to sell to one of his cronies. And bytedance won't do that.
Is this gonna turn out to be trumps version of the Iran hostage crisis sabotage
The decomcrats are fucking morons for allowing Trump to take credit for this. This was the obvious outcome and was easily preventable.
Iranian hostages anyone? Look how trump saved the day. He gives them their bread and circuses.
What a waste this was.
GOOD! I'm looking Forward to Trump RESTORING this App that he said was CHYNESE SPYWARE being used to Hurt Americans!
I mean it is just so so dumb. Have people really got that short term memory that no one remembers who pushed for this in the first place?!
Yes.
Ah you pussies. Come on, show them you’re serious. Go dark again. Show them you really mean it and do the rest of the territories too. Forever.
How do I filter out every thread regarding a given string?
I'm way more interested in the reactions of Google, Apple, Oracle, and the dozens of other corporations ByteDance depends on.
The "90-day extension" Trump keeps talking about has no basis in law except to conclude an in-process divestment, which currently doesn't exist. He can order the law not to be enforced, but you're still breaking the law. It'll interesting to see if those companies are willing to along with an executive order their counsel knows is illegal or are willing to knowingly break the law under the promise they won't be prosecuted (for now).
edit: IANAL
I mean, they can get away with it. They own the government, if the next president threw a fit about them going along with something that they knew was illegal because Trump was OK with it, do you think their lawyers wouldn't be able to make it go away for a meager fine that's 0.001% of their annual revenue?
I'm curious whether "can probably get away with it" is enough for them. And whether they'll take the risk for no reward whatsoever in the case of Apple and Google.
has no basis in law
Wikipedia says, with a couple references:
The president may grant a one-time extension of the divestiture deadline by as long as 90 days if a path to a qualified divestiture has been identified, "significant" progress has been made to executing the divestiture, and legally binding agreements for facilitating the divestiture are in place.
So I think he can do it.
as long as 90 days if a path to a qualified divestiture has been identified, “significant” progress has been made to executing the divestiture, and legally binding agreements for facilitating the divestiture are in place.
My point is that no path has been identified, no progress has been made, and nothing is in place.
What could Trump do? Anyone know? The law is the law. Lemme guess. He’s just gonna not enforce the law?
Well, it's a federal law, so yeah, basically. I mean, it's kind of up to the president if the DOJ actually prosecutes people for breaking federal law. Take Biden for example. He just pardoned a bunch of people who were in prison for federal drug charges. The laws they broke are still on the books, and what they did was still technically illegal, even if it's stupid to begin with.
Somebody at the DOJ could just go rogue and try to enforce the laws, but they would just be fired if the president didn't like it.
He just pardoned a bunch of people who were in prison for federal drug charges
These weren't even the worst pardons...
He let out some cunt who robbed her town blind.
Imagine being corrupt and then being pardoned by the president. That's a slap to the taxpayer
Marvel Snap is still down. Like the 1980s we nerds don't matter.
ETA: As of 11:16pm, PST, 2025-01-20, Snap's been up for a few hours but it's still not accessible on the Apple Store or Google Play.
