Despite what American politicians and some media talking heads claimed, the takeover of TikTok was never about China, or national security, or protecting data. And now that ownership has been transferred to pro-Trump and pro-Israel billionaires, it is not only being heavily censored, it is collecting far more data on its users than before.

The usual reasons for this are still true. Most data collection is for marketing. But why does TikTok need to know about your immigration status? Or your ethnic identity? Or your sexual orientation? We know that the Department of Homeland Security and other US agencies routinely harvest information from this kind of data collection.

Other questions have come up as well. Why is TikTok censoring the word “Epstein” and “ICE?” Why does the word “Israel” come up in virtually every search? The reasons for the latter become apparent when one listens to the new owners who have stated quite clearly that certain words, such as “Zionist,” will be considered “dirty” unless it is coming from someone who is a proud one. This isn’t about confronting and condemning antisemitism, especially since many Jews identify as anti-Zionist. It is about banning any interrogation of a political ideology which has resulted in the genocide in Gaza.

Some Democrats are saying that TikTok should be investigated, such as Gavin Newsom. But Newsom has always supported these kinds of draconian surveillance tactics. He signed the “Digital Age Assurance Act” which is wildly pro-censorship in the name of supposedly “protecting children.” So, his objections now are merely political theatre and it is only in reference to Trump. He wants to be able to keep up his completely useless meme war with him without providing any meaningful challenge to his fascism. And he doesn’t care one bit if Palestinian content is banned.

With all the bluster about China and their censorship of political speech, surveillance and data collection, a differentiating factor between it and the United States is that China does this largely to benefit its people. The US does not. This is not an excuse for authoritarianism, but it is a striking contrast between the two nations.

As TikTok becomes a free speech wasteland, other apps are rising. UpScrolled has seen a sharp rise in users. But it is based in Australia, which does not have the best record in online free speech either. Still, it is a far better alternative.

The hard truth is that the ruling, billionaire class feels like they are losing control of the narrative. Of “acceptable debate and dialogue.” They use terms like “civil discourse” as a cudgel against dissent and criticism. In this way, they never have to be interrogated for their role in atrocities, political repression and the global dismantling of democracy.

This is why they are busy buying up news outlets and social media platforms. And they do not care one bit if they drive these mediums into the ground, so long as they hold on to their wealth and every lever of power.

Kenn Maurice Orfanos, February 2026