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  • The TikTok Ban: Overview and New Developments

    The TikTok Ban: Overview and New Developments

    An Overview of TikTok Security Concerns

    In 2016, the Chinese company ByteDance launched Douyin, a social media app focused on short-form content in China. Following the app’s success, ByteDance expanded the app overseas, launching TikTok to the international market in late 2017. TikTok was a major success internationally, amassing two million downloads and 800 about million active users within a few years.

    Despite its massive popularity, TikTok has come under scrutiny for alleged cybersecurity threats. In 2019, the U.S. government sued the company for violating child online privacy laws, leading TikTok to settle for a $5.7 million fine. After reports of alleged censorship suggested that TikTok was working in tandem with Chinese government interests, the Pentagon banned the app on all military devices. In a joint letter to the Director of National Intelligence later that year, Senators Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Tom Cotton (R-AR) argued that weak Chinese cybersecurity laws might compel ByteDance “to support and cooperate with intelligence work controlled by the Chinese Communist Party” by handing over data to the Chinese government upon its request. However, more recently, security experts argued that China has been collecting personal data from Americans for nearly a decade such that TikTok is not necessarily a novel or unique threat.

    A Brief History of the TikTok Ban

    After TikTok gained widespread attention in 2019 for alleged security concerns, President Trump signed two consecutive executive orders that restricted American business transactions with ByteDance and demanded ByteDance to shift management of TikTok’s U.S. operations. While these orders prompted consideration of a potential sale to Microsoft, the second order was blocked by a federal judge and the Trump administration eventually loosened its deadlines after losing the 2020 election.

    The momentum toward a national TikTok ban slowed for the first few years of the Biden Administration, until a 2023 hearing with TikTok’s CEO drew public attention for lawmakers’ heated interrogations. The same year, a bipartisan “sell-or-ban” bill, which proposed a national TikTok ban if the app was not sold to an American buyer in 270 days, was introduced and gained traction. On April 24, 2024, President Biden signed the “sell-or-ban” bill into law. In response, TikTok sued the U.S. Justice Department, arguing that the ban violated the constitutional right to free speech. The Department of Justice argued that the bill was justified due to pressing national security threats. 

    Recent Developments

    On Friday, January 17th, 2025 – two days before the ban was to go into effect – the Supreme Court ruled against TikTok, holding that the “sell-or-ban” bill was constitutional because it did not target TikTok for the content of the platform’s speech, and was based on sufficient evidence of national security threats. Additionally, the Supreme Court reasoned that the law was not an outright ban because TikTok still had the opportunity to operate if the platform was sold to different management. 

    On Saturday, January 18th, the app went offline for about twelve hours before returning with a message thanking then President-elect Trump for his efforts to restore the app. Before TikTok resumed service on Sunday the 19th, Trump had promised to issue an executive order delaying enforcement of the “sell-or-ban” law after his inauguration the following day. 

    Now, Trump has issued a 75-day delay in enforcing the TikTok ban, ordering that ByteDance either sell the app within that time or reach a deal with Trump in which 50% of ownership of the app would be given to the United States

  • Sophia Mazzola, University of South Carolina

    Sophia Mazzola, University of South Carolina

    Sophia Mazzola is a senior at the University of South Carolina, pursuing a degree in Public Relations. Her professional interests lie in marketing, social media strategy, and brand management, with a passion for fostering creativity and connection through impactful campaigns. Sophia has gained hands-on experience through internships in digital media, sales, and marketing, including content creation and social media management for diverse brands. Outside of work, she enjoys fashion, competitive dance (she was part of a national championship-winning team), and exploring innovative storytelling through visual communications. Sophia thrives in collaborative environments where she can grow both personally and professionally. LinkedIn.

  • Christopher Maichin, Colby College

    Christopher Maichin, Colby College

    Christopher Maichin is a double major in Government and Education at Colby College, where he is also a member of the varsity men’s lacrosse team. He is passionate about pursuing a career in law and politics. LinkedIn.

  • Vianna Rodgers, University of Texas at Austin

    Vianna Rodgers, University of Texas at Austin

    Vianna Rodgers is a Government major from the University of Texas at Austin, and is also double minoring in Business & Law, Justice, and Society. Her interest in policy and government grew into a passion for Constitutional and Criminal Law, which she will use to protect the rights of the people in her community. In addition to her studies, she was the Chair of the General Assembly Plenary Committee for Central Texas Model United Nations, and will serve as a Crisis Director in the upcoming semester. She also had the privilege of acting as the Michigan delegate at Arizona State University School of Law’s inaugural Model Constitutional Convention. Outside of school, Vianna enjoys baking cinnamon rolls and playing a good game of Dungeons and Dragons. LinkedIn.

  • Anh Tran, Denison University

    Anh Tran, Denison University

    Mia Tran is a current double major in Global Commerce and Economics at Denison University in Granville, Ohio. She is interested in international business and commerce and the impact of human thought and behavior central to how global business and trade functions. Outside of academia, Mia enjoys music, dance and some alone time immersing herself in nature for a breath of fresh air. LinkedIn.

  • Katelin Kalgren, Virginia Tech

    Katelin Kalgren, Virginia Tech

    Katelin is a Junior at Virginia Tech from Virginia Beach. She is majoring in Public Relations and minoring in Event Management and Consumer Studies. Katelin’s interests include marketing, public relations, and policies such as expanding voting access. She enjoys writing and reading in her free time. LinkedIn.

  • Ethaar Gwary, University of Virginia

    Ethaar Gwary, University of Virginia

    Ethaar Gwary is a third-year student at the McIntire School of Commerce. Her plan is to concentrate in Marketing and IT with a track in Business Analytics. Research and analysis are two things she enjoys doing, which is why she finds marketing to be the concentration for her. Ethaar’s aspiration is to one day work on Wall Street. Outside of school, she loves to bake, cook, swim, and do new things. LinkedIn.

  • President-Elect Trump’s Day-One Promises

    President-Elect Trump’s Day-One Promises

    President-elect Donald Trump is set to take office Monday, January 20th for his non-consecutive second term. Along the campaign trail, Trump has made several promises that he plans to execute on his first day back in office. Such promises include initiating mass deportations, ending the war in Ukraine, combating inflation, and pardoning those who were charged for their participation in the January 6th insurrection.

    Mass Deportation

    While campaigning, President-elect Trump promised to carry out the country’s largest mass deportation program, stating that America must “make the border strong and powerful.” Trump’s appointed “border czar” Tom Homan explained that the Trump administration would implement a “Remain in Mexico” policy on Trump’s first day in office. This policy would force asylum seekers to remain in Mexico while waiting for their asylum status to be approved. Additionally, Homan expressed plans to deport all illegal immigrants even if their children are United States citizens, arguing, “having a U.S. citizen child doesn’t make you immune from our laws.” It is expected that these policies will be implemented through executive orders.

    Trump’s promised mass deportation program is estimated to cost around $86 billion. Without the guaranteed support of congressional funding, the budgets of executive agencies will need to be reworked in order to allocate enough funding to execute the policy. Given the impending increase in detained immigrants under his policy, the Trump administration is also preparing to work with county jails and private prisons to provide additional space for undocumented immigrants. In his Time Person of the Year interview, the president-elect also noted that he is prepared to call in the National Guard and local sheriffs to execute his deportation policies.

    Ukraine Russia War

    Donald Trump has repeatedly promised to take steps to end the war between Russia and Ukraine during his first days as president. In an interview with Fox news, Trump’s press secretary stated that on day one, Trump would bring “Ukraine and Russia to the negotiating table to end this war.” While Trump has not elaborated on the specifics of his plan to engage both nations in negotiations, his campaign’s communications director has noted that the war is a “top priority” of Trump’s second term and that “Trump believes European nations should be paying more of the cost of the conflict.” Despite Trump’s promises, Russia’s ambassador to the United Nations has argued that the conflict cannot be solved in “one day.”

    Economy and Inflation

    During his campaign for president, Trump promised to increase tariffs on foreign imports with the aim of decreasing costs for American consumers. In late November, Trump announced that he would implement a 25% tariff on all products coming into the United States from Mexico and China on his first day in office. Trump plans to keep the tariffs in place until illegal immigrants stop entering the United States. Moreover, Trump promised that he would leverage an “additional 10% tariff” against China until it stops the flow of drugs, particularly Fentanyl, from entering the U.S.

    China, Canada, and Mexico have all denied their alleged involvement in the flow of drugs across U.S. borders, reiterating their commitment to border security in statements to the press. Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum stated that “neither threats nor tariffs will solve the issue of migration or drug consumption,” arguing that Trump’s proposed day-one tariffs do not address the root issues underlying migration and the drug trade. 

    Despite promising to “bring [grocery] prices way down” during an interview with NBC in early December, Trump has also faced pushback from economists who warn that his proposed tariffs will instead increase the cost of goods for the American consumer. Chief market strategist at Corpay Cross-Border Solutions, Karl Schamotta, argues that the tariffs will “add approximately $272 billion a year to tax burdens, raise goods prices, [and] lift interest rates.” Trump recently backpedaled on his promise to lower grocery prices in his Time Person of the Year interview, stating that it would be “very hard” to bring down grocery prices due to broken supply chains. In the interview, Trump did not clarify his plans to fix the supply chain issue, but stressed that his day-one tariffs would strengthen the economy.

    January 6th Pardons

    On the campaign trail, Trump announced a plan to pardon all individuals charged for their actions related to the capitol insurrection on January 6th, 2021. In mid-December, Trump stated that he plans to issue pardons on a “case-by-case” basis, promising to look over each case within the “first hour that [he] gets into that office” to determine if the insurrectionists “actually caused death and destruction”. In the same interview, Trump claimed that most of the insurrectionists “should not be in jail” and have “suffered greatly.” At least 1,500 people have been charged or plead guilty to the attack on the capitol, and at least 645 people have been sentenced to jail time. 

    As January 20th approaches, critics and supporters alike wait intently to see whether the President-elect will follow through on his day-one policy promises.

  • Understanding China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in Southeast Asia and the U.S. Response:

    Understanding China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in Southeast Asia and the U.S. Response:

    Introduction:

    The BRI (Belt and Road Initiative) is a 2013 trade route plan aimed at improving China’s connectivity to the rest of the world. The plan seeks to stimulate China’s economy through investing in infrastructure projects including railways, bridges, and airports abroad. This project also strives to connect countries in the Global South and Eastern Europe to China via land and maritime networks in hopes of increasing trade and economic growth. It is estimated that over 150 countries are partnered with the BRI across six continents.

    The BRI in Southeast Asia

    Southeast Asia is a key region of the BRI. The plan’s extensive funding supports a range of urban development initiatives in Southeast Asian nations, making it difficult to pinpoint its specific effects on local policies. Projects under the BRI encompass everything from infrastructure development to special economic zones to cultural activities.

    In the Philippines, the BRI has led to many large-scale infrastructure projects, but has also been criticized for expanding illicit sectors and selectively benefiting economic elites. Indonesia plans to leverage the BRI to enhance connectivity between Java Island and its eastern regions, fostering cultural interconnectivity and economic opportunities. In Cambodia, BRI-funded transportation projects, like the Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville Expressway, have reduced travel time and improved safety between major cities. For landlocked Laos, the BRI presents a chance to boost its economy and global standing through enhanced transportation infrastructure. Malaysia has seen improvements in human resource development due to the BRI-funded Malaysia-China Kuantan Industrial Park (MCKIP) project.

    While the BRI has contributed to several developments across Southeast Asia, it also raises concerns about debt dependence and disregard for environmental health and safety. Countries borrowing from China for large infrastructure projects risk falling into “debt traps”, which can force them to favor the interests of their donor nation and hinder their ability to invest in local development. Forms of “debt trap diplomacy” such as the BRI have been found to spur long-term economic downturn in beneficiary nations. Environmental impacts are another major concern. In Thailand, a high-speed railway project threatens deforestation and community displacement, particularly near the culturally significant city of Ayutthaya. In Vietnam, the Vinh Tan 2 Thermal Power Plant is discharging excessively hot wastewater into the sea, negatively affecting marine life and local agriculture. There is also a coal ash dump site near Vinh Tan, and local households are complaining about nearby crops dying and withering as a result. In Indonesia, the rapid development at the Morowali Industrial Park (IMIP) poses worker safety risks. These drawbacks have led critics to deem the BRI  “China’s belt and road to nowhere”.

    BRI’s Impact on US Foreign Policy

    Given ongoing criticism that the U.S. has struggled to match China’s vision for economic expansion, the U.S. plans to counter the BRI with a similar project. In 2022, President Joe Biden announced the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) at the G20 Summit. This project has similar goals to the BRI, such as increasing connectivity and economic integration with the rest of the world. While the IMEC is targeted at India, the Middle East, and Europe, China’s project extends mostly to countries in the Global South, especially Southeast Asia. 

    The split between Global North and Global South is relevant to the U.S. and China’s competing policies. While India and Saudi Arabia are the only countries in the IMEC that represent the Global South, China’s BRI puts special emphasis in expanding reach into Global South markets. While this marks a significant opportunity for China to expand its influence in developing nations, it also risks backlash from countries who feel the BRI is doing more harm than good to local economies. Since the IMEC emerged significantly after BRI, the U.S. aims to learn from its shortcomings as it launches a new strategy.

    Conclusion

    In conclusion, the BRI has significantly impacted Southeast Asia, driving infrastructure development and economic growth while also raising concerns about debt dependency and environmental harm. The future of BRI in the region will depend on balancing development with local welfare and environmental considerations. As the U.S. responds with the IMEC, it will aim to learn from these challenges to foster sustainable partnerships in its target regions. 

  • Briana Vinson, University of South Carolina

    Briana Vinson, University of South Carolina

    Briana is an Honors student at the University of South Carolina, majoring in Human Resources (HR) Management with a minor in African-American Studies. Passionate about creating positive change, she has gained valuable experience through various internships and as a Resident Assistant, where she fosters inclusive communities and supports students’ academic and personal growth. Briana’s professional interests focus on HR in non-profits, law firms, government agencies, and educational institutions, where she can make a meaningful impact by promoting growth, mentorship, and organizational development. This dedication to empowerment is evident through her volunteer work with Learn to Be, Girl Scouts of the USA, and as a tutor for elementary and middle-school-aged kids. Briana is excited to further her passion of empowering younger generations as the HR intern with ACE. Beyond her academic and professional endeavors, she serves as the Community Outreach Chair for the Black Honors Caucus and is an active member of Alpha Phi Omega Service Fraternity. Briana enjoys cooking, singing, and listening to music. After graduation, she plans to pursue a Master’s degree in Public Administration, Organizational Psychology, or Legal Studies to enhance her ability to drive organizational change. LinkedIn.