The man who wants to buy TikTok and buck Big Tech — and why he thinks Utah is leading the way

Technology

On Friday morning, the Trump administration extended the deadline for China-based ByteDance to sell TikTok. For another 75 days, the video-sharing app will remain as is for its 170 million United States users — unless the extension is challenged.President Donald Trump announced the extension on social media, reasoning that more time is needed to make a deal between Bytedance and an American buyer. “My Administration has been working very hard on a Deal to SAVE TIKTOK, and we have made tremendous progress,” he said. “We do not want TikTok to ‘go dark.’ We look forward to working with TikTok and China to close the Deal.”This is the second time Trump has postponed the app’s sale or ban in the U.S. Last year, Congress signed a law that said ByteDance has to sell TikTok, or the app would be shut down. The Supreme Court upheld the law in December, making Trump’s executive orders to keep TikTok running legally questionable.Several American investors and businesses have put forward bids to buy the app, including the billionaire former Dodgers owner Frank McCourt, founder of the nonprofit Project Liberty.In a sit-down interview on Friday with Deseret News, McCourt and Tomicah Tillemann, Project Liberty’s president, said despite the news, they continue to believe their bid is the only one that will comply with the law.McCourt was in Salt Lake City to attend the signing of several bills that aim to protect children online, including one that gives users the right to own, control and manage their data, ensuring that they can permanently delete their own information. This right, which McCourt called a “human right,” is the focus of Project Liberty, a nonprofit that aims to create a new information superhighway that is “healthier” and “safer” for its users.McCourt thinks his bid is bestThe bipartisan effort to pry TikTok from ByteDance stemmed from national security concerns over the app potentially sharing user-collected data with the Chinese government.McCourt has put together a bid to buy TikTok through Project Liberty, which they’re calling the “People’s Bid.” Under their ownership, TikTok would give users more freedom to choose what content they see and what they do with their personal data.McCourt said Project Liberty’s mission is to empower its users rather than exploit them. Founded in 2019, the initiative aims to challenge the power currently held by Big Tech.“This isn’t a tech issue; this is actually a human rights issue,” McCourt told the Deseret News. “This is an issue about choice. This is an issue about autonomy.”The internet should be a place for users to “create and innovate and have a chance to build things of value, as opposed to the world that exists now, which is that there are a few companies that own it all — and worse, they own us,” he said.Frank McCourt, founder of Project Liberty, right, and Tomicah Tillemann, president of Project Liberty, pose for a portrait at the Deseret News’ office at the Triad Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, April 4, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News In the U.S., adults use TikTok more than any other social media app, averaging a little over 53 minutes daily, and more than half of users are between the ages of 18 and 34. The platform made $10 billion in revenue in just the U.S. last year.Tillemann related the world’s acceptance of algorithmic instant gratification addiction to the 20th-century obsession with cigarettes.Back then, “Everyone had gotten accustomed to that reality, even though it was really, really bad for people, but within a relatively short period of time, that changed, and you saw greater awareness,” he said, adding that the change was prompted by growing public awareness, policymaking and regulation.Tomicah Tillemann, president of Project Liberty, talks with a reporter at the Deseret News’ office at the Triad Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, April 4, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News “People were able to move beyond addictions and decide they wanted a much better, healthier ecosystem in which they were going to raise their kids and live a life,” he said. “And I think there are some interesting analogs there to the dynamics that we see about social media.”McCourt believes the cultural shift on attitudes about social media has already begun, but like cigarettes, the current status quo will eventually become a full-fledged “taboo.” Apps like TikTok that are “surveilling us and grabbing our attention are going to be viewed not just as unlawful through public policy but culturally unacceptable,” he said.Utah law is protecting user’s ‘digital DNA’Before McCourt and Tillemann sat down with the Deseret News, they spent Friday morning at the state Capitol attending Gov. Spencer Cox’s ceremonial signing of online safety bills, which Project Liberty aided Utah lawmakers in creating.Utah Gov. Spencer Cox shakes hands with Rep. Doug Fiefia, R-Herriman, after signing a ceremonial copy of HB418, the Digital Choice Act, which Fiefia sponsored, during a press conference to address online safety, student focus and digital choice held in the gold room of the Capitol in Salt Lake City on Friday, April 4, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News McCourt celebrated Utah as the first state to hold big tech accountable through legislative action, including the Digital Choice Act, which will allow Utah app users the right to own, control and manage what he calls our “Digital DNA.”Both McCourt and Tillemann emphasized that all eyes are on Utah to see how tech companies will react to the new laws: comply or litigate.“In the last few weeks, since this law passed the Senate, we’ve had conversations not only with lawmakers all over the United States, but with policymakers all over the world,” Tillemann said.“They are very, very focused on what’s happened in Utah. They recognize that this is a big deal, and they are looking for models that will help them solve a challenge that’s facing every open society on the planet.”

Cedar Rapid business impacted by tariffs only two days after they take effect

Business News

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — The ripple effects of President Trump’s new tariffs are already being felt by small business owners, and it’s forcing a local cosmetics manufacturer to try and find ways to maintain the quality of their products while also staying affordable.”We’re looking at modifying the recipe or doing what we need to do to survive,” Steve Shriver, founder of Eco Lips, said.Eco Lips is a cosmetic and beauty manufacturing company in Cedar Rapids operating for more than 20 years. As a business that sources its raw materials from up to 50 different countries in the world, Eco Lips is trying to find ways to keep manufacturing products sustainably, like changing their formula.“We source most of our raw materials from outside of the United States, mainly because the majority of the raw materials and ingredients that we use in our products cannot be grown in the United States,” Shriver said.One of the countries Eco Lips imports raw materials from is Madagascar, which now has 47% tariffs on the exports Eco Lips brings in. Other places that Eco Lips imports materials from includes India, Indonesia and Nepal who also have tariffs ranging from 10% to 32%.A raw material that is used in some of the products manufactured by Eco Lips is vanilla, and Shriver says it will have to be sourced at a higher price now because of these import taxes.”There’s one where vanilla can’t be grown in the United States,” Shriver said, “And Madagascar happens to be the kind of environment that can grow vanilla. So, we will have no choice but to continue to import vanilla at the increased price.”Eco Lips also uses raw materials like shea butter and coconut oil which are imported and those materials are also going to have an increase in pricing.“So, the impact is that these raw materials will now go up in price by 30 to 50%, and we now will have to increase the price of our products,” Shriver said.He also pointed out that customers might have to pay more than they usually do for products made by Eco Lips.“In the end, my $3 lip balm is going to be $5 to $6 in the next year or two,” Shriver said.Since the announcement of these tariffs, Shriver says they tried to prepare their inventory but that’s getting to be a problem too.“We bought as much as we could in the short time that we had. And we’re still doing that,” Shriver said. “So, that’s another problem though. So, it’s also increased demand, which has also driven up the prices of things like, cocoa butter and coconut oil.”Experts have said these tariffs might be used as a negotiation tactic, but in the meantime, businesses will have to continue importing at these new prices.These tariffs could generate revenue for the government, but consumers will have to pay more as manufacturers pass down the increased expenses on to buyers.

Report: Growing SD small business sector faces hurdles, can be boosted by inclusive development

Business News

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Downtown San Diego. (File photo by Chris Stone/Times of San Diego)

San Diego County recently ranked third for the most new business applications in California, according to a new report by the San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation.

The data point, from 2023, is part of the “2030 Inclusive Growth Goals: Annual Update,” released this week.

The authors noted increased job quality in small businesses, with more positions than ever before paying at least $23 per hour, accompanied by benefits for workers.

However, they warned, “the gap between small businesses and their larger counterparts continues to grow.

“Despite this uptick and importance to the regional economy, small businesses are challenged to keep up in an increasingly expensive market,” the report stated. “In particular, small businesses struggle to offer competitive wages compared to larger firms.”#placement_508230_0_i{width:100%;margin:0 auto;}

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The EDC report called businesses with fewer than 100 employees “critical to the region’s economy,” saying they represent 98% of all firms and account for 59% of total employment.

Key takeaways from the report:

The number of San Diegans completing degrees and credentials each year has increased by over a third, along with the total of Latinos with a bachelor’s degree, which has increased by more than half.

Households are experiencing rising incomes, by over 30%, with Latino household income up by 42% in the last five years.

Sharp increases in the median housing price, by almost 50%,, however, have offset those gains.

In addition, “many San Diego households, businesses and workers continue to face an increasingly competitive economy that has widened economic inequity across class and racial lines,” the report states.

According to the report, goals for the San Diego region over the next five years are 50,000 new quality jobs, 20,000 additional skilled workers and 75,000 new “thriving” households.

Part of that growth, the report concludes, requires inclusive economic development, a concept under attack by a White House that has repeatedly targeted diversity, equity and inclusion programs both in government and private institutions.

“The San Diego region demands inclusive economic development so that all San Diegans can live, work and do business here,” the EDC report stated. “It is a business and economic imperative.”
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EDC reported that employers “are already making a difference in San Diego” and suggested how others can take part:

Shift a percentage of existing procurements to small, local and diverse businesses for new job creation.

End “unnecessary and exclusionary” degree requirements for entry-level jobs, while making on-the-job training and better skills a priority.

Build relationships with local educators, such as community colleges, and other nontraditional training programs, as a way to build bridges in hiring.

Grow incentives, seek out new financing mechanisms and streamline permits for middle-income housing development.

Use data to understand the development landscape and where workforce concentrations exist in terms of site-selection.

In the next five years, EDC officials said they will “continue to measure against these goals while incorporating new data, refining methodologies and updating strategies to reflect the latest trends and economic realities in the public and private sectors and in community-based endeavors.

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How NHIs Can Deliver Real Business Value

Business News

Are NHIs the Unsung Heroes of Cybersecurity?
It’s no secret that cybersecurity is a top priority for organizations, but did you know how crucial Non-Human Identities (NHIs) can be? To put it in simple terms, an NHI is a machine identity, including all the permissions and secrets associated with it. Interestingly, managing these NHIs effectively can bring significant business value and strengthen your organization’s cybersecurity posture.
Why Are NHIs So Significant to Business Operations?
There’s a common saying in business: ‘you can’t manage what you don’t measure.’ The same applies to the realm of cybersecurity, where visibility is paramount. The management of NHIs provides that much-needed visibility, empowering organizations to understand the risks associated with each machine identity and devise strategies to mitigate them.
Furthermore, conscientious management of NHIs aligns with numerous compliance regulations that mandate the careful control of privileged access. By implementing a robust NHI management solution, organizations can demonstrate their commitment to regulatory compliance, thus enhancing their reputation and trust.

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Dispelling Myths About NHIs
Unfortunately, some misconceptions surround NHIs, preventing their potential business value from being fully understood and utilized. Here, we debunk some common myths:
Myth: NHIs Are Just Another IT Jargon
Fact: While NHIs may seem like a complex concept, they are fundamentally pivotal elements that keep systems functioning as intended. In essence, without NHIs, we couldn’t safeguard the credentials and permissions needed for machines to interact with each other.

Brand USA faces a tourism reckoning as global visitors look elsewhere

Travel

Forget glossy campaign reels. The damage to Brand USA is showing up in the data – and on the faces of would-be visitors asking a harder question: ‘Am I welcome? Am I safe?’“There is no doubt that we are facing a difficult moment for ‘Brand USA,’” says Cinzia Amadio, chief marketing and growth officer at Roar Africa. “I think many of us agree that we are in the midst of an unexpected crisis and it should be dealt with as such.”Amadio, who is judging The Drum Awards for Marketing and who spent nearly a decade leading international marketing at Silversea Cruises before taking up her new role last year, is no stranger to the nuances of promoting high-end travel experiences. Her take: this is a moment for marketing to step up – not by polishing the message, but by facing the questions head-on.According to Oxford Economics, inbound visits to the US are projected to fall by 5.1% this year – with a potential 12.7% drop by the end of 2025. That could translate into an $18bn loss in international visitor spending and up to $64bn across the wider travel economy.The stakes are particularly high for gateway cities such as LA, Miami and New York – destinations that depend on international visitors and the billions they bring.But this isn’t just an economic challenge. It’s a perception one.

Want to go deeper? Ask The Drum

You can’t market around trust issues“In an ideal world, marketing should be about aspiration,” says Amadio. “In times like this, we need to shift towards reassurance because people are asking themselves: ‘Am I welcome? Am I safe?’”Tourism brands are grappling with a more fundamental shift: travelers want to feel seen – and secure. That means messaging alone won’t cut it.“You can’t market our way around these questions,” Amadio says. “These questions need to be answered by meeting these concerns head-on. And yet connecting to the human side of the conversation (as great marketing always does) is the only way to create a path out of it – focusing on people stories.”Canada as a case study in softening sentimentRecent figures from Miami and Fort Lauderdale airports show demand from Canadian travelers – historically a strong and reliable market – is dropping by up to 25%. While policies such as new DHS registration rules have added friction, the larger story is emotional: perception and comfort are increasingly driving decisions.Governments from Canada, France, Germany, Australia and others have all issued updated travel advisories for the US, referencing gun violence, political division and laws affecting LGBTQ+ individuals and immigrants.For Amadio, the response starts with honesty: “First things first, it must be dealt with with transparency – addressing the elephant in the room, acknowledging the concerns.”

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Reframing the narrative – not rewriting itAmadio argues that what’s needed now isn’t persuasion but perspective. “This is a country founded on strong values – freedom, equality, opportunity, pluralism. The United States is a mosaic of cultures, values, cities and voices. That diversity is its greatest asset.”In this climate, a centralized campaign won’t cut it. She calls for “distributed storytelling – centered on people, not politics. On the people who represent the real US behind the headlines.”That could mean partnering with independent storytellers – from international influencers to community leaders – and delivering communication on safety, policy updates and cultural norms in formats that are multilingual, empathetic and direct.“It’s about (re)gaining trust through the voices travelers already believe,” she says.
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The global competition is already movingAs America’s travel sector wrestles with questions of identity and inclusion, other nations are filling the gap.“Global competitors aren’t waiting,” says Amadio. “Mexico is loosening entry restrictions. Spain and Canada are positioning themselves as stable, inclusive havens. Singapore and Dubai are going after high-spend travelers with premium experiences and confidence campaigns.”The message for marketers is clear: this isn’t the time for superficial messaging. It’s a time to get real – about values, about policy and about people.“Travel has always been about connection – to people, to culture, to something bigger than ourselves,” Amadio says. “That’s the story ‘Brand USA’ must tell now. Not a promise of perfection. But an invitation to experience a country defined by its openness, its contradictions and its relentless reinvention.”

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90% of Your Business Could Be Automated With Just These 4 Tools

Business News

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.
If you’re only using AI just to write content, you’re getting crushed. The real winners are automating sales, operations and marketing 24/7 — without hiring a single employee with Phase 3 AI. This isn’t about saving a few hours — it’s about building a revenue engine that runs itself. In this video, I’m revealing four high-leverage AI agents that are quietly transforming how smart entrepreneurs operate, automate and dominate — faster and leaner than ever before.Revenue-generating AI agent: Discover the AI sales agent that replaces your outbound team — qualifying leads, booking calls and handling follow-ups automatically. (Used by startups to replace entire sales departments).Executive assistant agent: Eliminate calendar chaos, inbox overwhelm and manual scheduling with an AI assistant that handles it all, saving hours of admin work every week and keeping your business on track.Workflow and SOP agent: Learn how to document and delegate complex workflows in minutes using a screen-recording AI tool that turns your process into step-by-step guides for your team or VA — no more micromanaging.Pulse agent for marketing: See how one free AI tool can analyze your sales data, audit your content and predict campaign performance before you launch — plus how I used it to triple my sales in under 14 days.Whether you’re a solopreneur or scaling a lean team, these AI agents can replace repetitive work, increase your output and give you a serious competitive advantage — all while keeping your overhead low. I’ll show you how each tool works and how to implement them fast, even if you’re not a tech expert.Download the free “AI Success Kit” (limited time only). And you’ll also get a free chapter from my brand new book, “The Wolf is at The Door – How to Survive and Thrive in an AI-Driven World.”