Amid ongoing tariff turmoil and regulatory pressure, the Trump administration extended the deadline on measures targeting TikTok by 75 days. This delay in enforcing a potential ban offers TikTok additional time to address concerns while curbing an authoritarian impulse to silence platforms that serve as venues for diverse voices.

Former Black employees have filed a complaint with US civil rights agencies alleging TikTok fired them in retaliation for raising concerns about racist practices. The complaint details incidents of unequal pay, discriminatory treatment including derogatory remarks such as being called a 'black snake', and claims that internal complaints were ignored, leading to their termination.

Two Black TikTok workers allege systemic racial discrimination, retaliation, and wrongful termination after multiple complaints with HR, leading to charges with the EEOC.

A leaked memo obtained by Foxglove Legal and reported by WIRED indicates that TikTok is aware of potential labor rights violations in its outsourcing agreement with Majorel in Kenya. The document reveals that TikTok is monitoring the case closely, anticipating reputational and regulatory risks if courts rule in favor of the moderators alleging exploitation.

Leaked memos and documents indicate that TikTok is worried about potential labor rights violations related to its contract with Majorel for outsourced moderator services in Kenya. The company is considering an independent audit of Majorel's operations as a preemptive measure to mitigate legal and reputational risks, though critics warn it may be a performative gesture rather than a genuine improvement in workers' conditions.

In response to rising US concerns and potential bans over fears of Chinese surveillance, TikTok has solidified an agreement with Oracle to store US user data and outlined plans for additional data centers in Ireland and Norway, aiming to address data security concerns and challenge narratives that jeopardize digital freedom.

TikTok and its parent company ByteDance have spent over $13 million on federal lobbying since 2019 in an effort to counter legislative proposals targeting the app over national security and data privacy concerns. Despite these extensive measures, the campaign has largely fallen flat as lawmakers continue to push for restrictions including potential bans.