Tech Leader Warns of Trump's Influence in Industry, Citing Russia's Past
A tech industry leader recently expressed unease witnessing CEOs paying respect to Donald Trump at a White House dinner. This event, coupled with Russia's past experiences, has raised concerns about the intersection of tech and politics.
The author, who has lived and worked in Russia, drew parallels to the arrest of Boris Berezovsky in Britain in 2003. This marked a shift towards censorship and oppression in Russia. Now, they worry about the influence of Trump's ally in the tech industry.
Reports suggest that Trump is set to hand over TikTok's American operations to a group of investors. This includes Oracle's founder Larry Ellison, and investment firms Andreessen Horowitz and Silver Lake. They acquired 80 percent of TikTok's US business in September 2025. The author finds this development unsettling, given that 20 percent of Americans rely on TikTok for news.
The author's unease stems from the potential influence of Trump's ally in the tech industry, drawing from Russia's past experiences. The handover of TikTok's US operations to these investors raises questions about the future of news dissemination and tech regulation.
