The shift in control over TikTok's operations to a US-led consortium raises concerns about potential censorship and suppression of content critical of American politicians.
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The recent takeover of TikTok's US operations by a consortium of American investors, including Oracle, has sparked discussions about the potential implications for freedom of speech and censorship in the digital age. According to Paolo Gerbaudo, a senior researcher at Complutense University in Madrid, the focus on censorship should shift from the ability to speak to the visibility of content.
In an article for The Guardian, Gerbaudo argues that censorship in the digital age is no longer about banning speech but rather about the reach and visibility of content under specific algorithms. This issue is accentuated by the US takeover of TikTok, which has led many users to worry about potential manipulation of the platform's algorithm to suppress critical voices.
The arrangement, presented as a means of complying with US legislation and protecting user data, has raised concerns that Donald Trump and his allies may use this newfound control to silence voices critical of them. TikTok, which has over 200 million users in the US, has become a significant platform for political discourse. The fear is that algorithmic control could be used to interfere with political discussions by suppressing content, similar to the alleged interference from China that led to the takeover in the first place.
The evolution of censorship in the digital age is a complex issue, and the US TikTok takeover serves as a reminder of the potential risks and consequences. While the focus on data protection and preventing political interference is essential, it is crucial to consider the potential for algorithmic censorship and its impact on the visibility and reach of content.
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It’s not what we can or cannot say that matters – rather, it’s whether what we say can get any visibility at all under the US-specific algorithm
We tend to think of censorship as the direct suppression of speech. We conjure images of mouths taped shut, courts seizing books and films, and journalists or activists thrown in jail to silence their voices. But what if, in a digital era governed by invisible yet highly consequential algorithms, censorship no longer revolved around the ability to speak, but rather around the visibility of content, its effective “reach”?
The launch of TikTok’s new US-specific algorithm underscores the urgency of this risk. This week, control over the platform’s operations has shifted to the TikTok USDS joint venture led by a consortium of investors that includes US big tech firms such as cloud-computing company Oracle, with the Chinese parent company ByteDance retaining a 19.9% stake. This arrangement is presented as a means of complying with US legislation introduced under former president Joe Biden, with the aim of protecting user data and preventing political interference from China. Yet many of TikTok’s 200 million US-based users now fear that Donald Trump and his allies may use algorithmic control to do precisely what China was accused of doing: interfering with political discussion by suppressing voices critical of Trump and his international allies.
Paolo Gerbaudo is a senior researcher at the faculty of political science and sociology of Complutense University in Madrid and the author of The Great Recoil
Continue reading...As we move forward in the digital age, it is crucial to recognize the evolving nature of censorship and the potential consequences of algorithmic control. The US TikTok takeover serves as a significant example of this issue, highlighting the importance of maintaining a nuanced understanding of censorship and the need to protect the visibility and reach of content in the digital realm.