4 ms·

Trump proposes US gov acquire half of TikTok, which thanks him, restores service

9 points by rntn 2y ago

Terr_ 2y ago
> Trump has since made reducing wasteful government spending a signature policy and his Republican generally argues for that and for small government. The incoming President’s post does not explain how acquiring half of a social media company meets those goals, or how the acquisition would be funded. "It's not wasteful government spending if it means I get to play with taxpayer money in a way that enriches myself and my cronies, or maybe I'll just keep it from competing with my good buddy Elon's product."
ggm 2y ago
Forgive an ignorant not-a-lawyer question, but if the US government owns 50% of something, does that increase it's 1st amendment rights to be considered a free speech channel? Because right now, it [isn't] Elon's playground and subject to contract and his whims. For the americans amongst us (I am not one) this might mean that some things said and done on tiktok [previously I said X] would be protected in law. Including ugly things. [Edit: As has been quite rightly pointed out: It's not Elon's toy. Yet.]
- cwillu 2y ago
  > Because right now, its Elon's playground and subject to contract and his whims. Tiktok is not twitter.
  - ggm 2y ago
    Thank you. My question has been edited, because the point at play about 50% government equity remains.
    - mojomark 2y ago
      Also not a lawyer, but TikTok is a prominent mode of media, nonetheless. We are slowly turning into China and Russia, with fully governed state controlled media which is the opposite of free speech. As a US taxpayer, I'm appalled that by money would be spent on a volatile stock, enriching a company (ByteDance) intertwined-by-necessity with a government that wants to forcably overthrow democracies. Awesome decision making. As a US gov't contractor, I guess I don't have to worry about organizational conflicts of interest or "buy american" clauses anymore.
bediger4000 2y ago
Wouldn't TikTok become that bugbear of free market economies, State Run Media?

9 points by rntn 2y ago

> Trump has since made reducing wasteful government spending a signature policy and his Republican generally argues for that and for small government. The incoming President’s post does not explain how acquiring half of a social media company meets those goals, or how the acquisition would be funded. "It's not wasteful government spending if it means I get to play with taxpayer money in a way that enriches myself and my cronies, or maybe I'll just keep it from competing with my good buddy Elon's product."

ggm 2y ago

Forgive an ignorant not-a-lawyer question, but if the US government owns 50% of something, does that increase it's 1st amendment rights to be considered a free speech channel? Because right now, it [isn't] Elon's playground and subject to contract and his whims. For the americans amongst us (I am not one) this might mean that some things said and done on tiktok [previously I said X] would be protected in law. Including ugly things. [Edit: As has been quite rightly pointed out: It's not Elon's toy. Yet.]

cwillu 2y ago
> Because right now, its Elon's playground and subject to contract and his whims. Tiktok is not twitter.
- ggm 2y ago
  Thank you. My question has been edited, because the point at play about 50% government equity remains.
  - mojomark 2y ago
    Also not a lawyer, but TikTok is a prominent mode of media, nonetheless. We are slowly turning into China and Russia, with fully governed state controlled media which is the opposite of free speech. As a US taxpayer, I'm appalled that by money would be spent on a volatile stock, enriching a company (ByteDance) intertwined-by-necessity with a government that wants to forcably overthrow democracies. Awesome decision making. As a US gov't contractor, I guess I don't have to worry about organizational conflicts of interest or "buy american" clauses anymore.

bediger4000 2y ago

Wouldn't TikTok become that bugbear of free market economies, State Run Media?