System Update with Glenn Greenwald Forced TikTok Sale—and Rising Censorship—Is for Israel, Not China
Jan 26, 2026
A deep dive into the forced sale of TikTok and how it could reshape online speech. Discussion connects the sale to pro-Israel influence and post-October 7 shifts in U.S. policy. Examination of media framing, ADL involvement, and moderation changes tied to Israeli interests. Raises alarms about large-scale censorship and foreign-aligned control over social platforms.
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Sale Motivated By Israel Concerns
- The TikTok sale was driven primarily by fears of anti-Israel content, not Chinese influence.
- Glenn Greenwald shows that momentum for a ban surged only after October 7th and ADL pressure.
Media Reported Ban Rejuvenation After October 7
- Major outlets reported the ban regained momentum after October 7th due to perceived anti-Israel bias.
- Greenwald cites NBC, NYT, WSJ and others showing the timing aligned with Gaza conflict coverage.
Platform Data Reflected Youth Opposition
- Data indicated pro-Palestinian hashtags were receiving far more views than pro-Israel ones.
- Greenwald argues this reflected young Americans' changing views after seeing Gaza war footage.