Newsom Probes TikTok Over Alleged Trump Censorship

Is this a case of jumping to conclusions too quickly, justifiably worrying about Trump's TikTok takeover or part of a troubling censorship trend from both parties?

Published 1 day ago

Newsom Probes TikTok Over Alleged Trump Censorship

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Above: California Governor Gavin Newsom at a press conference in San Francisco, Calif. on Jan. 16. Image credit: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

The Spin

Narrative A

It's important not to jump to conclusions the second you encounter a tech issue. According to not only TikTok but also independent media analyses, this was a widespread data center issue, one of the consequences of which was the failure to send one-word messages.

Forbes Verge

Narrative B

It's not unreasonable to assume that TikTok, just as it comes under the control of billionaire Trump allies, suddenly take action in Trump's favor. Oracle chairman Larry Ellison is a major backer of multiple Trump administration officials, and he's certainly capable of using his company to push their agenda.

Governor Newsom Press Office on X Middle East Eye

Cynical narrative

Newsom's complaint reeks of hypocrisy. While courting followers online, he champions sweeping censorship through California's Digital Age Assurance Act. His rhetoric masks authoritarian impulses — mandating age verification, expanding surveillance, and empowering government control over digital speech. Republicans are just as bad, funding the same agencies they used to condemn for censoring conservatives online.

Taylor Lorenz on X

An0maly on X