Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, stated that it’s unjust for the video-sharing platform TikTok to be operational in the U.S. while being prohibited in China.
Musk, who acquired the social media platform X, previously known as Twitter, in October 2022, argues that this situation infringes on freedom of speech. It should be noted that TikTok does not operate in mainland China despite being a Singaporean company.
He has expressed his opposition to the TikTok ban for an extended period, viewing it as a breach of free speech rights. Thus, he believes that the existence of TikTok in the U.S. while it is restricted in China creates an imbalance and calls for a change.
“I have been against a TikTok ban for a long time, because it goes against freedom of speech.
That said, the current situation where TikTok is allowed to operate in America, but is not allowed to operate in China is unbalanced.
Something needs to change,” he wrote on his X page.
Last year, Musk opposed the potential ban on the platform, reasoning that such a prohibition would ultimately benefit TikTok but contradict the principles of free speech, which he feels represent the essence of America.
Reportedly, TikTok, a widely used Chinese social media app, entered a state of “dark mode” in the U.S. on January 19, following the U.S. Supreme Court’s affirmation of a law that required its sale to continue operating in the U.S.
This legislation, enacted by the Biden administration, mandated TikTok sever all connections with its parent company, ByteDance, due to concerns regarding national security. Nevertheless, ByteDance has yet to comply with the directive to sell TikTok.
As of now, TikTok is down in the U.S., just hours before a new law aimed at banning the platform took effect. Users trying to access TikTok in the U.S. are met with a message stating, “you can’t use TikTok for now.”
Major American tech firms, including Apple and Google, have already complied with the law that became effective on January 19 by removing TikTok from their mobile app stores.
It’s important to recognize that TikTok is one of the leading social media platforms in the United States, boasting over 170 million users.
In contrast, former President Donald Trump indicated that he would “most likely” grant TikTok a 90-day extension before a ban is enforced. The platform also expressed gratitude on its X page toward Trump for assuring them that their services would resume, emphasizing their commitment to the First Amendment and opposition to arbitrary censorship.
“STATEMENT FROM TIKTOK:
In agreement with our service providers, TikTok is in the process of restoring service. We thank President Trump for providing the necessary clarity and assurance to our service providers that they will face no penalties providing TikTok to over 170 million Americans and allowing over 7 million small businesses to thrive.
It’s a strong stand for the First Amendment and against arbitrary censorship. We will work with President Trump on a long-term solution that keeps TikTok in the United States.”
