Is TikTok about to go full Maga?

In this episode, The Guardian investigates Donald Trump's recent executive order related to TikTok, which entails the sale of the app's US operations to American investors amid ongoing fears of data privacy issues linked to its Chinese ownership. This $14 billion deal aims to address security concerns that have escalated since TikTok's rise during the pandemic, where approximately 170 million Americans are now using the app. The discussion features Emily Baker-White, an investigative reporter and author, who elaborates on TikTok's influence on American culture and politics, especially as it has emerged as a significant platform for information dissemination.

Baker-White explains how TikTok's algorithm, which learns from user behavior rather than preferences stated by users, creates a highly engaging user experience. She also touches upon ByteDance, TikTok's parent company, which operates under stringent scrutiny from the Chinese government due to its control over media content. The interview highlights the realities of national security concerns, emphasizing that though there is no direct evidence of the Chinese government accessing data from TikTok users in the US, the risk remains that they could compel ByteDance to turn over user data.

The conversation delves into the political implications of the deal, stressing that the investors involved include significant figures associated with Trump, raising questions about potential biases in content policing on the platform. There is ongoing ambiguity about how much control or separation from ByteDance TikTok's new American management will actually have, particularly concerning the algorithm which influences content visibility. The episode concludes with speculations on how these developments might alter the media landscape in the US and Trump's objectives regarding information control via TikTok as a platform for his political messages.