THREAD: tiktok brink

TIKTOK On The BRINK: Biden’s Bold Move to Ban or Force Sale of Chinese App

02 May 2024 — TikTok and Universal Music Group have just renewed their partnership. This deal brings UMG’s music back to TikTok after a short break. The agreement includes better promotion strategies and new AI protections. Universal CEO Lucian Grainge said the deal will help artists and creators on the platform.

President Joe Biden has signed a new law that gives TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, nine months to sell the app or face a ban in the U.S. This decision is due to worries from both political sides about national security and protecting American youth from foreign influence.

TikTok’s CEO, Shou Zi Chew, announced plans to fight this law in U.S courts, claiming it supports their constitutional rights. Yet, ByteDance would rather close TikTok in the U.S than sell it if they lose their legal battle.

This conflict shows the ongoing struggle between TikTok’s business goals and America’s national security needs. It points out big worries about data privacy and foreign influence in American digital spaces by China’s tech sector.

SCOTLAND on the BRINK: First Minister Faces Critical No Confidence Vote

26 April 2024 — Scotland’s political scene is heating up as First Minister Humza Yousaf faces a potential ousting. His decision to end a coalition with the Scottish Green Party over climate policy disagreements has sparked calls for an early election. Leading the Scottish National Party (SNP), Yousaf now finds his party without a parliamentary majority, intensifying the crisis.

The termination of the 2021 Bute House Agreement has stirred considerable controversy, leading to severe repercussions for Yousaf. The Scottish Conservatives have declared their intention to hold a no-confidence vote against him next week. With all opposition forces, including former allies like the Greens, potentially unified against him, Yousaf’s political career hangs in balance.

The Greens have openly criticized SNP’s handling of environmental issues under Yousaf’s leadership. Green co-leader Lorna Slater remarked, “We no longer trust that there can be a progressive government in Scotland committed to climate and nature.” This comment sheds light on profound disagreements within pro-independence groups regarding their policy focus.

The ongoing political discord poses a significant threat to Scotland’s stability, possibly forcing an unplanned election well before 2026. This situation highlights the complex challenges faced by minority governments in maintaining cohesive alliances and achieving policy goals amidst conflicting interests.

US BRIDGES on the BRINK: The Shocking State of America’s Crumbling Infrastructure

31 March 2024 — The Fishing Wars Memorial Bridge, a long-standing structure in Tacoma, Washington, is once again off-limits. Despite its reopening in 2019 after a year-long closure and even earning a national award, federal officials have expressed concerns about its aging section. The bridge previously carried around 15,000 vehicles daily. Now it remains closed indefinitely as the city scrambles to fund necessary cleaning and inspection.

Bridges are crucial elements of our infrastructure that often go unnoticed until they fail us. A recent example is the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore due to an unfortunate cargo ship collision. However, this incident only scratches the surface as thousands of other bridges across the country are in far worse condition.

Reportedly, about 42,400 US bridges are currently in poor condition and bear around 167 million vehicles each day. A staggering four-fifths of these structures have issues with their supporting components. An Associated Press analysis reveals that over 15,800 were also deemed poor a decade ago.

A prime example is a persistently deteriorating bridge on Interstate 195 over Rhode Island’s Seekonk River which was abruptly shut down last year causing significant delays for drivers. In March it was announced that this bridge — carrying approximately 96,000 westbound vehicles daily — needs to be demolished

ISRAEL and HAMAS on the Brink of a Landmark Hostage Deal: Here’s What You Need to Know

28 February 2024 — A potential breakthrough is in sight as Israel and Hamas edge closer to a deal. This agreement could liberate about 130 hostages currently held in Gaza, offering a brief respite from the ongoing conflict, says U.S. President Joe Biden.

The deal, which could be enacted as early as next week, would bring much-needed respite to both Gaza’s battle-weary residents and the families of Israeli hostages taken during a Hamas attack on October 7th.

Under this proposed agreement, there would be a six-week cease-fire. During this time, Hamas would release up to 40 hostages — mainly civilian women, children, and older or ill captives. In exchange for this act of goodwill, Israel would release at least 300 Palestinian prisoners from their jails and permit displaced Palestinians to return home to designated areas in northern Gaza.

Moreover, aid deliveries are expected to surge during the cease-fire period with an estimated daily influx of between 300-500 trucks into Gaza — a significant leap from current figures," shared an Egyptian official involved in brokering the deal alongside U.S. and Qatari representatives

GREECE on the BRINK: Orthodox Nation Set to Legalize Same-Sex Marriage Despite Church Opposition

15 February 2024 — In a historic move, Greece’s parliament is on the verge of voting in favor of legalizing same-sex civil marriage. This would be an unprecedented step for an Orthodox Christian nation, and it comes amidst strong opposition from the influential Greek Church.

The bill was drafted by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ center-right government and has garnered support from four left-wing parties, including main opposition Syriza. The backing from these parties secures 243 votes in the 300-seat parliament, virtually guaranteeing its passage despite expected abstentions and opposition votes.

State Minister Akis Skertsos highlighted that most Greeks already accept same-sex marriages. He asserted that societal change has outpaced legislative action and does not require parliamentary approval to validate it.

TIKTOK’S SHADOW BAN: Suppressing Content Critical of Chinese Communist Party?

28 December 2023 — A recent investigation by Rutgers University’s Network Contagion Research Institute has unveiled unsettling details about TikTok’s content guidelines. The popular social media platform, notorious for its data collection and sharing with its parent company in China, now stands accused of stifling content that criticizes the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

The research team found a stark contrast in the number of posts featuring contentious hashtags such as China’s conflict with India over Kashmir, the Tiananmen Square massacre, and the Uyghur genocide on TikTok compared to other platforms like Instagram. For instance, there were 206 Instagram posts tagged #HongKongProtests for every single one on TikTok. Similar ratios were observed for #StandWithKashmir, #FreeUyghurs, and #DalaiLama.

The report suggests that there is a high likelihood that TikTok either boosts or suppresses content depending on how it aligns with the Chinese government’s interests. This is worrisome since many Generation Z users rely on TikTok as their primary news source — interestingly enough, this is also the only generation reported not to take pride in being American.

TikTok cannot deny these findings as they mirror the methodology used by them last month to prove their platform was not biased against Israel. This revelation raises serious questions about

UPenn President’s CAREER on the BRINK: Antisemitism Controversy Ignites Firestorm of Criticism

10 December 2023 — University of Pennsylvania’s President, Liz Magill, finds her position teetering on the edge after a surge of criticism regarding her handling of antisemitism. Her job stability is now in doubt following an ill-received congressional testimony. University donors, bipartisan lawmakers, alumni, and Jewish groups have voiced their displeasure.

The Penn Board of Trustees is set to meet this Sunday at 5 p.m., where they may decide Magill’s future. The board faces the challenge of determining whether she can effectively lead and fundraise for the university amidst this storm since the October 7 attack on Israel.

Magill has faced mounting calls for resignation after failing to unequivocally state that calls for Jewish genocide are considered bullying or harassment under UPenn’s code during a congressional hearing. This lukewarm response has sparked widespread public outrage and demands for her stepping down.

Magill’s management of antisemitism has been met with severe criticism from Pennsylvania’s Democratic governor, the Wharton School board, and high-profile donors. One alumnus even threatened to retract a $100 million donation unless there is a shift in leadership.