TikTok
Trump Administration Moves Forward With TikTok Ban
After weeks of discussions over the future of TikTok in the United States, the Trump Administration has announced it will be banning the social media platform as well as messaging app WeChat from mobile app stores starting as early as Sunday (Sept. 20). The unprecedented ban is to “Protect the National Security of the United States” from the Chinese-owned company, according to a statement from the U.S. Department of Commerce. It goes on to say that “At the President’s direction, we have taken significant action to combat China’s malicious collection of American citizens’ personal data, while promoting our national values, democratic rules-based norms, and aggressive enforcement of U.S. laws and regulations.” While Trump plans to boot WeChat from app stores on Sept. 20, TikTok will be...
Instagram Founder could become New TikTok CEO
Sourced from Cosmico TikTok is reportedly talking to founder and former CEO of Instagram, Kevin Systrom. This comes after Kevin Mayer resigned from his position as TikTok CEO amidst contention between the video-sharing platform and the Trump administration. If Systrom were to take up this position, he would be in direct competition with his former boss, Mark Zuckerburg, at Facebook. Instagram’s Kevin Systrom becoming TikTok’s CEO and crushing Reels would be the ultimate revenge for Zuckerberg stripping his autonomy. So spicy! pic.twitter.com/CrxzgfeltM — Josh Constine -SignalFire (@JoshConstine) September 17, 2020 The Financial Times reports that TikTok’s GM, Vanessa Pappas, has taken over the CEO role in the interim. /* custom css */ .tdi_3_551.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left; ...
YouTube Launches TikTok Competitor in India
YouTube Shorts allows users to record and upload 15-second videos straight from their mobile phones. YouTube is entering the race to usurp TikTok’s dominance in the short-form video space with YouTube Shorts, a new tool that will allow users to record and upload 15-second videos straight from their mobile phones. This week, YouTube will launch an early beta of Shorts in India, which in late June banned TikTok and dozens of other Chinese-owned apps, citing security concerns. Since the ban, the popularity of TikTok competitor Triller exploded in India, surging to No. 1 on Apple’s App Store in the country. In its early beta launch in India, Shorts will boast a number of creation tools similar to those on TikTok and its competitors, including a multi-segment camera allowing users t...
ByteDance Rejects Microsoft’s TikTok Bid
Sourced from Gadgets 360. Microsoft has confirmed that TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, has rejected its bid to acquire the video-sharing platform – the acquisition would allow Microsoft to own and operate the TikTok service in the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. The tech giant revealed that it would have made ‘significant changes’ to the way that ByteDance and TikTok deal with security, privacy and online safety – something that it believes would have been good for American users. In a statement, Microsoft says, “ByteDance let us know today they would not be selling TikTok’s US operations to Microsoft. We are confident our proposal would have been good for TikTok’s users while protecting national security interests. To do this, we would have made significant chan...
Oracle Reportedly Wins TikTok Bid
Sourced from Cosmico Oracle and ByteDance have reached a “technical partnership” for TikTok’s US operations, according to The Wall Street Journal. This, however, does not include the sale of the popular video-sharing app. A number of people familiar with the matter believe that Oracle will address the national security concerns surrounding TikTok, raised by the Trump Administration. Sources told FT that the US tech company was already in “preliminary talks with TikTok owner Bytedance, and was working with a group of investors that already holds a stake in the Chinese company.” This comes shortly after Microsoft revealed that ByteDance has rejected its bid to acquire TikTok – the acquisition would’ve allowed Microsoft to own and operate the TikTok service in the United States, Can...
TikTok Sale: ByteDance Partners With Oracle
ByteDance has selected Oracle as its partner for a deal to keep TikTok operating in the U.S., a source familiar with the talks confirms to The Hollywood Reporter. The decision comes as ByteDance has rejected a bid by Microsoft that earlier this summer was seen as the likely option for the company as it looked to avoid a shutdown of the popular social media app amid increased tensions between the U.S. and China. Microsoft confirmed that its bid had been rejected in a statement on its corporate blog on Sunday night. “We are confident our proposal would have been good for TikTok’s users, while protecting national security interests,” the company wrote. “To do this, we would have made significant changes to ensure the service met the highest standards for security, priv...
Department of Justice Argues TikTok Employee Can’t Stop Trump’s ByteDance Ban
The Department of Justice argues a TikTok employee’s fear that the executive order banning transactions with Beijing-based parent ByteDance will keep him from getting paid isn’t enough to warrant a temporary restraining order that would keep the Department of Commerce from enforcing it. President Donald Trump on Aug. 6 issued an order that would bar “any transaction by any person” with ByteDance or any of its subsidiaries. TikTok on Aug. 24 sued, arguing its due process and first amendment rights were being violated. The same day, a technical program manager named Patrick Ryan sued Trump and U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross Jr. arguing that the vaguely worded ban on transactions between U.S. persons and ByteDance could mean that he can’t get paid. Earlie...
Spotify Files Patent for Short-Form Video Sharing Akin to TikTok
A new patent filed by Spotify shows the streaming giant is serious about accelerating its presence in the visual content arena. The company recently introduced video podcasts to its platform in 2020 and is continuing to build its audiovisual offerings for artists, including canvas art and music videos. The recent developments have put the platform on a collision course with the likes of similar multimedia platforms such as YouTube. It seems, however, that Spotify has been paying particularly close attention to TikTok as of late. In a groundbreaking move, Spotify has filed a patent that would enable users to share short-form “video moments” soundtracked to music. Spotify’s Short-Form Video Moments Patent In the patent, the Stockholm-based company shares i...
City of Los Angeles Brings Charges Against TikTok Influencers Who Threw Illegal House Parties
The Los Angeles City Attorney has brought charges against two prominent TikTok influencers, Bryce Hall (21) and Blake Gray (19). The young men threw a series of parties — including a massive birthday bash — in defiance of emergency pandemic orders. As TMZ reports, both have been slapped with one misdemeanor for violating a local ordinance. They’ve also each been issued a noise citation. The city described the charges as a “crackdown on party houses.” The biggest of the bashes took place August 14th at “Sway House”, a $50,000-a-month rental in the Hollywood Hills. It’s occupied by a small collective of hard-partying, often shirtless TikTok influencers, including Gray and Hall. The party was thrown in honor of Hall’s 21st birthday and his first legal consumption of alcohol. The resulting bac...
TikTok CEO Resigns
Image sourced from Evening Standard Kevin Mayer has resigned from his position as TikTok CEO amidst contention between the video-sharing platform and the Trump administration. The Financial Times reported that TikTok’s GM, Vanessa Pappas, will take over the CEO role in the interim. In an internal email, Mayer says “in recent weeks, as the political environment has sharply changed, I have done significant reflection on what the corporate structural changes will require, and what it means for the global role I signed up for.” “Against this backdrop, and as we expect to reach a resolution very soon, it is with a heavy heart that I wanted to let you all know that I have decided to leave the company.” In recent months, TikTok has been embroiled in a legal battle against US President Donald Trum...
Walmart and Microsoft Team Up to Try and Buy TikTok
Just when you thought the TikTok Royal Rumble couldn’t get any wilder, Walmart’s entrance music started to play. As CNBC reports, the Big Box chain is making a late move to acquire TikTok by tag-teaming with Microsoft. TikiTok is currently owned by the Beijing-based company ByteDance. By joining together, Microsoft and Walmart hope to fend off other deep-pocketed bidders, including the tech giant Oracle. CNBC guesses the final price tag will be between $20 and $30 billion, and a deal could happen within the week. Ever since a sale seemed likely, Microsoft has been connected to TikTok. But Walmart’s interest is new, and seems to stem from its desire to compete with Amazon Prime. In July, Walmart announced Walmart +, which is exactly what it sounds like: a Sam’s Club ripoff of more...
TikTok CEO Kevin Mayer Resigns Amid White House Pressure to Sell App
TikTok CEO Kevin Mayer resigned Thursday amid U.S. pressure for its Chinese owner to sell the popular video app, which the White House says is a security risk. In a letter to employees, Mayer said that his decision to leave comes after the “political environment has sharply changed.” His resignation follows President Donald Trump’s order to ban TikTok unless its parent company, ByteDance, sells its U.S. operations to an American company within 90 days. “I have done significant reflection on what the corporate structural changes will require, and what it means for the global role I signed up for,” he said in the letter. “Against this backdrop, and as we expect to reach a resolution very soon, it is with a heavy heart that I wanted to let you all know that I have decided to leave the company...
