Free speech until it’s used to mobilize protesters against the killing of children in other countries
Tiktok should just pull out and hold negotiations with Trump and bribe him with bacon.
They should offer a VPN service to all Western TikTok users to access the app.
I didn't read the specifics, but I highly doubt they will do a ban on access to the servers. They will simply write the law in whatever way is required (or more likely... just ask) and have Apple/Google/Microsoft and whoever else remove it from their US app stores.
Like it's not being made illegal (or deemed already illegal) as has been the case with online gambling circa 2006(?)ish or various crypto trading platforms in the US. Those require VPNs because the underlying service was banned (online poker and stuff. They reworked how it's allowed and it's back now I guess? But for a while there) or like crypto was deemed to be an asset by the SEC and fell under a bunch of regulations that made those companies go "uhhh. Nah. Fuck that. Ban all US users"
So the main obstacle would be getting people access. Not much of an issue on Android since side loading is simple. Apple isn't that difficult either but it has further obstacles (which the EU said had to go... yet oddly... Apple never complied and side loading is still artificially and super annoyingly restricted).
The easiest way would be a mobile friendly website and ditch the app in favor of one of those "add to home screen" web apps that function basically like an app... but slightly shittier
I didn't read the legislation and don't know how it would be implemented anyway. If they are attempting to go full nuclear mode and order all ISPs to censor it... well 5 years ago I'd be shocked maybe. Now I actually kind of expect that sort of unhinged action. Guess we'll see
US surveillance and tech companies when somebody else is spying on their citizens:
