2024-03-21 01:13:50
There is suddenly harmony on an issue in the US election campaign. Up to 170 million Americans are directly affected by the TikTok ban.
In the USA, the Republicans have presented a bill – and the Democrats support it. After years of insistence, this is a hammer. This news could trigger boundless euphoria, shine a light in dark times, and inspire hope. Finally, one could read it, things are becoming constructive again. It’s about content. While war rages in Ukraine. And a humanitarian catastrophe is looming in the Gaza Strip thanks to Hamas terrorists and a harsh Israeli response to the October 7 massacre. And in this country the traffic lights argue, argue, argue. Now the world is looking to Washington: there they have understood what is really at stake. About good politics for the people. One might think so.
To person
The television journalist Nicole Diekmann is known as a serious political reporter. Completely different, namely quick-witted and funny, you can experience them on Twitter – where she has over 120,000 fans. There she fillets political and social excitement around the Internet. Her book “The Shitstorm Republic” is available everywhere. In her podcast “Hopeful News,” Diekmann talks to a guest every week about the beautiful, hopeful – simply GOOD news. She writes the “Im Netz” column every Wednesday at t-online.
In reality, however, the bill does not represent a change. But for the continuation of a policy that does not put people at the center, but rather alienates them for electoral and economic interests.
What is it about? About TikTok. The video platform on which young people used to dance in a funny way that was incomprehensible to older people in terms of style and effect. Young people are still doing this, but they have long been flanked by big political players. More on that in a moment.
Freedom of speech is a sacred cow in the USA
The Chinese Bytedance company is behind TikTok – and behind it, in short, the Chinese state. It cannot stay that way, says the draft law. Either Bytedance sells TikTok to US investors – or TikTok is banned in the USA.
This bill alone is a huge step on several levels. According to TikTok, around 170 million Americans use the platform, almost half the country. This should be mentioned as the first point. Besides, we’re talking about the USA – and in the USA, freedom of speech is a sacred cow. Wanting to ban TikTok, as is already the case in India, for example – that contradicts the self-image in just as fundamental a way as tightening gun laws would.
Nevertheless, Republicans and Democrats are now pushing the project forward. With the astonishing unity, astonishing speed and astonishing clarity already mentioned: the vote in the House of Representatives was clear with 352 yes and 65 no votes.
The reason for the ban: choice
On the surface, the argument is: concern for national security. Bytedance has power over an unimaginably galactic amount of data from its users. And so, that is the concern, also the Chinese state. Let me clarify: This is a legitimate concern.
This initiative therefore has a serious core; it is an actually important debate. Only: It’s not new. And it is also not the reason why it is only being carried out now, but with full force. There is a well-known mechanism behind this, but no less devastating for all fans of democracy and political apathy: elections are taking place in the USA. And there, as elsewhere, things suddenly happen that otherwise don’t seem to work (anymore).
And not just in a good sense. So 180-degree volts are no problem at all – even if those who perform them are quite elderly and perhaps have a bit of stiff hips.
Sometimes hüh, sometimes hott
Let’s take Donald Trump. Trump was actually in favor of a TikTok ban. He was already that in his first term as US President. Since then, the situation has not eased; TikTok has gained popularity worldwide. In addition, the relationship between the USA and China has not taken the direction of a Nobel Peace Prize. But Trump has now changed his mind. That’s what he’s known for. The reason would almost not matter, but only almost: a major donor to presidential candidate Trump is involved in TikTok. Of course, it’s not just the Chinese who are on board there, even though they have power in the TikTok control committee.
However, it would be too easy to dismiss this as “Typical Trump”. Because Nancy Pelosi, Democrat and former Speaker of the House of Representatives, also seems to be guided less by principles than by those she needs behind her. Pelosi is now suddenly in favor of a ban. She wasn’t for a long time. Only she is a representative for California. The headquarters of, among others, Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram. The interest in getting rid of an unpleasant competitor, at least partially, is of course gigantic there. Because 30 to 40 year olds are also using TikTok more and more – classic Instagram clientele. So Trump and Pelosi simply swapped roles.