Actress Leaves TikTok Over Censorship Concerns
Megan Stalter, known for her role in hack, has decided to leave TikTok. She cites heavy censorship regarding her posts that touch upon Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
“We are completely monitored and censored,” she mentioned in an Instagram post. “Even when I try to make my content appear comedic, I can’t upload anything about ICE.”
Other creators on TikTok, like Aaron Parnas and Under the Desk News, have also raised alarms about increased censorship, both identifying with left-leaning perspectives.
Amid this, TikTok is working on a deal that would transition ownership to a U.S. entity, aiming to avoid Chinese ownership and to mitigate the risk of a potential ban. Recently, the platform announced it has entered into an agreement with several tech companies for an acquisition.
This joint venture will split TikTok’s shares among major firms. Oracle will hold a 15% stake, and so will the UAE-based investment firm MGX. Additionally, technology investment firm Silverlake will also have a 15% interest. ByteDance, the original Chinese parent company, will keep a 19.9% minority stake under the new arrangement.
The new owners have committed to modifying social media algorithms to eliminate capabilities for Chinese data collection, replacing them with strategies tailored for U.S. standards.
However, some experts remain skeptical about this new agreement, particularly because Oracle’s management includes Larry Ellison, known to be an ally of former President Trump. Concerns linger regarding whether the Chinese government has consented to this transition.
National security specialists also worry that the final deal structure might not sufficiently deal with China’s notable influence over security issues, as highlighted in recent legislation approved by Congress. This law mandates that ByteDance refrain from maintaining any operational ties with TikTok’s U.S. operations, a measure that has even been ratified by the Supreme Court.
