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'''TikTok''' is a [[social media]] platform owned by [[People's Republic of China|Chinese]] company [[ByteDance]], which hosts user-submitted videos ranging in duration from 15 seconds to 10 minutes. In 2021, TikTok had over a billion users, including 70 million in the [[United States of America|United States]].<ref name=":0">{{Web citation|author=[[Alan Macleod]]|newspaper=[[MintPress News]]|title=The NATO to TikTok Pipeline: Why Is TikTok Employing So Many National Security Agents?|date=2022-04-29|url=https://www.mintpressnews.com/nato-tiktok-pipeline-why-tiktok-employing-national-security-agents/280336/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220826100307/https://www.mintpressnews.com/nato-tiktok-pipeline-why-tiktok-employing-national-security-agents/280336/|archive-date=2022-08-26|retrieved=2022-08-31}}</ref> | '''TikTok''' is a [[social media]] platform owned by [[People's Republic of China|Chinese]] company [[ByteDance]], which hosts user-submitted videos ranging in duration from 15 seconds to 10 minutes. In 2021, TikTok had over a billion users, including 70 million in the [[United States of America|United States]].<ref name=":0">{{Web citation|author=[[Alan Macleod]]|newspaper=[[MintPress News]]|title=The NATO to TikTok Pipeline: Why Is TikTok Employing So Many National Security Agents?|date=2022-04-29|url=https://www.mintpressnews.com/nato-tiktok-pipeline-why-tiktok-employing-national-security-agents/280336/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220826100307/https://www.mintpressnews.com/nato-tiktok-pipeline-why-tiktok-employing-national-security-agents/280336/|archive-date=2022-08-26|retrieved=2022-08-31}}</ref> | ||
Despite being owned by a Chinese company, TikTok is | Despite being owned by a Chinese company, TikTok is not available in China, where a similar app called [[Douyin]] is used instead. TikTok and Douyin have almost the same user interface but no access to each other's content. Their servers are each based in the market where the respective app is available. | ||
== Controversies == | |||
The | === Attempted ban in the United States === | ||
The [[Government of the United States of America|US government]] has made repeated attempts to censor or ban TikTok, claiming that the platform constitutes a "threat" to national security. However, it has been unable to provide any evidence of the alleged "espionnage" by TikTok, while international media outlets have noted that the United States itself has a documented history of engaging in espionnage and mass surveillance.<ref>{{Web citation|newspaper=[[Al Jazeera]]|title=US says China can spy with TikTok. It spies on world with Google|date=2023-03-28|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2023/3/28/bid-to-ban-tiktok-raises-hypocrisy-charge-amid-global-spying|retrieved=2026-04-26|quote=[United States lawmakers] did not mention how the US government itself uses US tech companies that effectively control the global internet to spy on everyone else... There have been some indications that US officials see China, not TikTok itself, as the ultimate concern... In 2021, the most recent year for which data is available, the US targeted 232,432 “non-US persons” for surveillance, according to government data.}}</ref> Extensive lobbying efforts by US billionaires and corporations against TikTok revealed that the true objectives of the US government involve ambitions of political and economic hegemony.<ref>{{Web citation|author=[[Ben Norton]]|newspaper=[[Geopolitical Economy Report]]|title=US TikTok ban aims to weaken China & protect Big Tech monopolies|date=2024-03-18|url=https://geopoliticaleconomy.com/2024/03/18/us-tiktok-ban-china-tech-monopolies/|retrieved=2026-04-20|quote=This is part of a technological war that Washington is waging against Beijing. The US is essentially trying to block competition from Chinese tech companies, to protect Big Tech monopolies in Silicon Valley... For its part, Meta (which has tens of billions of dollars of contracts with multiple US government agencies) has spent years lobbying against TikTok.}}</ref> | |||
In 2020, the US government tried to make Walmart or [[Microsoft Corporation|Microsoft]] buy TikTok, forcing the company to organize "Project Texas" and fill its ranks with officials from the [[Imperialism|imperialist]] [[United States Intelligence Community|secret police]]. The buyout deal was cancelled as a result.<ref name=":1" /> | |||
== Government connections == | The state of [[Montana]] in the US attempted to institute a statewide ban on the usage of the application with the initial ban being planned to take effect on January 1, 2023 but the ban was blocked by US District Judge Donald Molloy.<ref>{{Web citation|author=Ma Jiangjiang oh|newspaper=Global Times|title=US judge blocks Montana’s TikTok ban as Washington urged to stop crackdown and consolidate momentum of thawing bilateral ties|date=2023-12-01|url=https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202312/1302864.shtml|retrieved=2023-12-01}}</ref> | ||
==== Impact ==== | |||
Many TikTok users in the United States protested against the attempted ban by migrating to [[RedNote]], a domestic Chinese platform, while expressing skepticism and ridicule at the US government's propaganda narratives.<ref>{{Video citation|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sSkAbDbvVOY|channel=[[Carl Zha]]|title=American TikTok Refugees and Chinese compares Grocery/Medical Bills on RedNote|date=2025-01-17}}</ref><ref>{{Video citation|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdHW33QE15o|channel=[[BreakThrough News]]|title=‘Turning Chinese’: Gen Z Memes Undermine Anti-China Propaganda|date=2026-02-11}}</ref> | |||
=== Censorship === | |||
Censorship on Tiktok has greatly increased since the addition of employees linked to the [[National Security Agency]]. As of 2022, TikTok has deleted at least 320,000 [[Russian Federation|Russian]] accounts and labelled 49 as "Russian state-controlled media." [[Bourgeois media|Western state-controlled media]] outlets do not have similar warning labels.<ref name=":0" /> | |||
=== Government connections === | |||
Victoria McCullough worked for the [[Department of Homeland Security]] and had connections to the [[President of the United States|White House]], now works in the trust and safety division of TikTok.<ref name=":0" /> Her colleague Kathryn Grant worked for the White House for three years and later for the [[United States National Security Council|National Security Council]] and [[United States Department of Energy|Department of Energy]] before becoming TikTok's Trust and Safety Manager. TikTok crisis manager Jim Ammons spent 21 years as an [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] unit chief.<ref name=":1" /> | Victoria McCullough worked for the [[Department of Homeland Security]] and had connections to the [[President of the United States|White House]], now works in the trust and safety division of TikTok.<ref name=":0" /> Her colleague Kathryn Grant worked for the White House for three years and later for the [[United States National Security Council|National Security Council]] and [[United States Department of Energy|Department of Energy]] before becoming TikTok's Trust and Safety Manager. TikTok crisis manager Jim Ammons spent 21 years as an [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] unit chief.<ref name=":1" /> | ||
=== CIA === | ==== CIA ==== | ||
* Casey Getz, who worked for the CIA for 11 years and eventually became a branch chief, now works on data security for TikTok.<ref name=":1" /> | * Casey Getz, who worked for the CIA for 11 years and eventually became a branch chief, now works on data security for TikTok.<ref name=":1" /> | ||
* Threat analyst Beau Patteson worked for the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] and as a military intelligence officer for the United States.<ref name=":0" /> He continues to work for the U.S. military while serving as TikTok's Trust and Safety Manager.<ref name=":1" /> | * Threat analyst Beau Patteson worked for the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] and as a military intelligence officer for the United States.<ref name=":0" /> He continues to work for the U.S. military while serving as TikTok's Trust and Safety Manager.<ref name=":1" /> | ||
=== NATO === | ==== NATO ==== | ||
* Feature Policy Manager Greg Andersen worked on psychological operations for NATO until 2019. | * Feature Policy Manager Greg Andersen worked on psychological operations for NATO until 2019. | ||
* Foard Copeland worked for NATO and the [[United States Department of Defense|U.S. Department of Defense]]. | * Foard Copeland worked for NATO and the [[United States Department of Defense|U.S. Department of Defense]]. | ||
* [[Canada|Canadian]] Content Policy Lead Alexander Corbeil is also the vice president of the [[North Atlantic Treaty Organization|NATO]] Association of Canada.<ref name=":0" /> | * [[Canada|Canadian]] Content Policy Lead Alexander Corbeil is also the vice president of the [[North Atlantic Treaty Organization|NATO]] Association of Canada.<ref name=":0" /> | ||
=== U.S. State Department === | ==== U.S. State Department ==== | ||
* Christian Cardona, who worked for the State Department in [[Republic of Poland|Poland]], [[Republic of Türkiye|Turkey]], and [[Sultanate of Oman|Oman]], served as TikTok's Product Policy Manager for Trust and Safety from 2021 to 2023. | * Christian Cardona, who worked for the State Department in [[Republic of Poland|Poland]], [[Republic of Türkiye|Turkey]], and [[Sultanate of Oman|Oman]], served as TikTok's Product Policy Manager for Trust and Safety from 2021 to 2023. | ||
* Brad Earman, TikTok's Global Lead of Criminal and Civil Investigations, worked as an [[United States Air Force|Air Force]] special agent for 21 years. He also worked as an anti-terrorism manager for the State Department. | * Brad Earman, TikTok's Global Lead of Criminal and Civil Investigations, worked as an [[United States Air Force|Air Force]] special agent for 21 years. He also worked as an anti-terrorism manager for the State Department. | ||
Revision as of 04:03, 20 April 2026
TikTok is a social media platform owned by Chinese company ByteDance, which hosts user-submitted videos ranging in duration from 15 seconds to 10 minutes. In 2021, TikTok had over a billion users, including 70 million in the United States.[1]
Despite being owned by a Chinese company, TikTok is not available in China, where a similar app called Douyin is used instead. TikTok and Douyin have almost the same user interface but no access to each other's content. Their servers are each based in the market where the respective app is available.
Controversies
Attempted ban in the United States
The US government has made repeated attempts to censor or ban TikTok, claiming that the platform constitutes a "threat" to national security. However, it has been unable to provide any evidence of the alleged "espionnage" by TikTok, while international media outlets have noted that the United States itself has a documented history of engaging in espionnage and mass surveillance.[2] Extensive lobbying efforts by US billionaires and corporations against TikTok revealed that the true objectives of the US government involve ambitions of political and economic hegemony.[3]
In 2020, the US government tried to make Walmart or Microsoft buy TikTok, forcing the company to organize "Project Texas" and fill its ranks with officials from the imperialist secret police. The buyout deal was cancelled as a result.[4]
The state of Montana in the US attempted to institute a statewide ban on the usage of the application with the initial ban being planned to take effect on January 1, 2023 but the ban was blocked by US District Judge Donald Molloy.[5]
Impact
Many TikTok users in the United States protested against the attempted ban by migrating to RedNote, a domestic Chinese platform, while expressing skepticism and ridicule at the US government's propaganda narratives.[6][7]
Censorship
Censorship on Tiktok has greatly increased since the addition of employees linked to the National Security Agency. As of 2022, TikTok has deleted at least 320,000 Russian accounts and labelled 49 as "Russian state-controlled media." Western state-controlled media outlets do not have similar warning labels.[1]
Government connections
Victoria McCullough worked for the Department of Homeland Security and had connections to the White House, now works in the trust and safety division of TikTok.[1] Her colleague Kathryn Grant worked for the White House for three years and later for the National Security Council and Department of Energy before becoming TikTok's Trust and Safety Manager. TikTok crisis manager Jim Ammons spent 21 years as an FBI unit chief.[4]
CIA
- Casey Getz, who worked for the CIA for 11 years and eventually became a branch chief, now works on data security for TikTok.[4]
- Threat analyst Beau Patteson worked for the CIA and as a military intelligence officer for the United States.[1] He continues to work for the U.S. military while serving as TikTok's Trust and Safety Manager.[4]
NATO
- Feature Policy Manager Greg Andersen worked on psychological operations for NATO until 2019.
- Foard Copeland worked for NATO and the U.S. Department of Defense.
- Canadian Content Policy Lead Alexander Corbeil is also the vice president of the NATO Association of Canada.[1]
U.S. State Department
- Christian Cardona, who worked for the State Department in Poland, Turkey, and Oman, served as TikTok's Product Policy Manager for Trust and Safety from 2021 to 2023.
- Brad Earman, TikTok's Global Lead of Criminal and Civil Investigations, worked as an Air Force special agent for 21 years. He also worked as an anti-terrorism manager for the State Department.
- Mariola Janik previously worked for the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, State Department, and Department of Homeland Security. In September 2022, she became TikTok's Trust and Safety Program Manager.
- Katrina Villacisneros, TikTok's Recruiting Coordinator, worked for the State Department's Office of Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs and oversaw cyberattacks as part of the Army Cyber Command.
- Ryan Walsh, Escalations Management Lead for Trust and Safety at TikTok, spread pro-NATO propaganda as a digital strategy advisor for the State Department.[4]
Alternatives
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Alan Macleod (2022-04-29). "The NATO to TikTok Pipeline: Why Is TikTok Employing So Many National Security Agents?" MintPress News. Archived from the original on 2022-08-26. Retrieved 2022-08-31.
- ↑ “[United States lawmakers] did not mention how the US government itself uses US tech companies that effectively control the global internet to spy on everyone else... There have been some indications that US officials see China, not TikTok itself, as the ultimate concern... In 2021, the most recent year for which data is available, the US targeted 232,432 “non-US persons” for surveillance, according to government data.”
"US says China can spy with TikTok. It spies on world with Google" (2023-03-28). Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2026-04-26. - ↑ “This is part of a technological war that Washington is waging against Beijing. The US is essentially trying to block competition from Chinese tech companies, to protect Big Tech monopolies in Silicon Valley... For its part, Meta (which has tens of billions of dollars of contracts with multiple US government agencies) has spent years lobbying against TikTok.”
Ben Norton (2024-03-18). "US TikTok ban aims to weaken China & protect Big Tech monopolies" Geopolitical Economy Report. Retrieved 2026-04-20. - ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 Alan MacLeod (2023-04-13). "TikTok: Chinese "Trojan Horse" Is Run by State Department Officials" MintPress News. Archived from the original on 2023-04-16. Retrieved 2023-04-16.
- ↑ Ma Jiangjiang oh (2023-12-01). "US judge blocks Montana’s TikTok ban as Washington urged to stop crackdown and consolidate momentum of thawing bilateral ties" Global Times. Retrieved 2023-12-01.
- ↑ Carl Zha (2025-01-17). "American TikTok Refugees and Chinese compares Grocery/Medical Bills on RedNote". YouTube.
- ↑ BreakThrough News (2026-02-11). "‘Turning Chinese’: Gen Z Memes Undermine Anti-China Propaganda". YouTube.