Details are scant, but it is being reported that the CEO of ByteDance – parent company to TikTok – reached out to Elon Musk ahead of the US presidential election.
Musk – who has now been named as head of the new Department of Government Efficiency – clearly has the president elect’s ear, seen regularly with Trump over the last few months.
Given the importance of the incoming administration when it comes to the future of TikTok in the US, this kind of check-in seems obvious, with the social media company potentially being forced to sell its US operations to an American company or close it down.
Hedging Bets
Reported by the Wall Street Journal, the two tech CEOs reportedly discussed “topics ranging from the incoming administration to potential tech policy.” They have not discussed specific measures to keep TikTok running in the United States, says the popular publication.
The WSJ also said that ByteDance’s senior leadership had reached out to “people close to Democratic nominee Kamala Harris” ahead of the election in a bid to hedge their bets.
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However, the Chinese-owned venture is now laser-focused on Trump and has obviously targeted Musk as someone who Trump trusts and is working closely with the incoming administration.
Will Trump Ban TikTok?
As far as we can tell, the government is currently pushing ahead with the ban, arguing that TikTok presents a danger to national security. Trump was very much in favor of a ban and it was his administration who was driving limits against the company in 2020.
Under Biden, not much changed, with officials noting that ByteDance has been sending data on US customers onto China where it is not ring-fenced from the Chinese government. The ban will come into effect on January 19th, 2025.
However, as the election loomed, Trump did a staggering U-turn. In a video posted to his channel, he told followers, “For all of those who want to save TikTok in America, vote Trump,” accusing Joe Biden of wanting to “close it up.” Trump added: “I’m now a big star on TikTok. We’re not doing anything with TikTok.”
It will be an interesting conversation when security chiefs have to explain to the new President why national security concerns may take precedence over his need to build up his TikTok following.
What Next for TikTok?
TikTok is appealing the ban in court and is arguing that it violates the First Amendment. It has also panned the law behind the ban as an “extraordinary intrusion on free speech rights.” The US Department of Justice has thrown this out, arguing that the First Amendment isn’t relevant when there is a threat to national security.
Simultaneously, the company is fighting a slew of allegations of knowingly causing damage to young users’ mental health. More than a dozen states have filed lawsuits accusing the company of creating a platform that is addictive with reports suggesting the company has put profits ahead of the welfare of its users.
However, whether Trump will take the verdicts of these lawsuits into account is anyone’s guess.
