It will be interesting to see how this plays out if the US actually goes through with a ban. There are probably around 100 million TikTok users in the US alone. Any blanket edict that affects that number of users is going to be seen as wildly Authoritarian and overreaching. It’s along the same lines as the EU threatening to ban iPhones if Apple doesn’t comply with their edicts. I believe Apple sells around 100 million phones a year in the EU.
These Authoritarian threats are being waved around by what are actually a very small number of individuals who feel emboldened by their positions of authority. But in most cases these people and groups are completely ignoring the preferences and choices held by hundreds of millions of people who would be impacted by the power plays being conducted by these small Authoritarian rule makers.
Does anyone think that 100 million EU residents would simply let themselves be forced to purchase a POS Android phone if the iPhone was “banned” by a small group of Authoritarians, many of whom are elected? I don’t see that happening. But of course Apple isn’t going to test those waters and will succumb to the Authoritarians living out their best lives/fantasies as big bad power players.
Millions of us were forced to wear masks and be injected multiple times with an experimental vaccine or risk being fired. They are in the processes of banning gas stoves, gas powered cars and equipment. They monitor and record everything.
The authoritarians are already here.
Gas stoves are just about the most stupid way to cook, just a step above and open wood fire.
They can just asking him one question and to shut him up. “If CCP ask ByteDance to hand over US/EU user data, will and can they refuse”
The answer is simple, NO. There is a Chinese law stated Chinese companies will be required to obey whatever CCP/government ask them to do. Even it is against other Chinese law.
Before calling US/EU hypothetic or dictatorship, can any outside social media company operate in China freely. The answer is no. Not even Chinese media companies/ByteDance can operate freely in China.
A more fair request is if CCP open up Chinese markets to foreign media companies than US/EU should allow Tiktok to operate in the West. But you already know it is impossible.
Good question! I have a question too. What kind of data TikTok have that will interest CCP? I will dare to guess one. Maybe TikTok can provide data that some US officials are interested in watching child porn?
Those that have made proven *false* accusations against TikTok and ByteDance also should be held accountable. Politicians carry a lot of influence. They can not be loose-tongued about what they *think* is the case, because then it becomes a false belief across the population, and damaging to an innocent company.
This is not a defence of TikTok or ByteDance. This is merely an observation of what has been playing out and how so many conspiracy theories have been thrown around by public servants of the country that are likely just false.
I was curious so I downloaded it and signed in. The data to set up an account is trivial. And you can lie. So what data they have on me is an email address, an incorrect birthdate and a preferred username. Period. “National Security threat? How on earth.
I’m more concerned about the cameras hidden in those made in communist China microwaves. Eyeroll.
And I just looked to double check: it doesn’t ask for access to location services and web app activity tracking is off by default. (iPhone)
Tik tok is a spy tool for China. Period. Just because gullible users agree to it doesn’t make it ok.
If the current admin had any backbone, this would be done a while ago.
Just like Whatsapp, Instagram, Twitter, etc are spy tools for the US. What’s the problem again?
长牙 (Long Fang) For discussion - Accepting your premise, we are supposed to be OK with the Chinese Communist Party spying via an app? It’s been reported that TikTok records every keystroke you make on your phone. If the other apps, you mention are spy apps, it doesn’t justify a Chinese Communist Party app being allowed in the US. But as others have mentioned, there are other ways than an outright ban to handle a CCP app.
This is AI, right? We all know Apple put user data security at its highest level. I trust Apple protect my data by guarding the App Store carefully. If TikTok can steal my data, Apple will know it and not let it be available on the App Store. Do I sound like the little boy that says the king wears no clothes? You know the king I am referring to.
They can just asking him one question and to shut him up. “If CCP ask ByteDance to hand over US/EU user data, will and can they refuse”
The answer is simple, NO. There is a Chinese law stated Chinese companies will be required to obey whatever CCP/government ask them to do. Even it is against other Chinese law.
Before calling US/EU hypothetic or dictatorship, can any outside social media company operate in China freely. The answer is no. Not even Chinese media companies/ByteDance can operate freely in China.
A more fair request is if CCP open up Chinese markets to foreign media companies than US/EU should allow Tiktok to operate in the West. But you already know it is impossible.
Good question! I have a question too. What kind of data TikTok have that will interest CCP? I will dare to guess one. Maybe TikTok can provide data that some US officials are interested in watching child porn?
No one can be certain at this point. But what if the app can side load a hidden spyware in the phone.
What if the app can log what you type in other apps.
Remember few years ago, US military ban their soldiers using something like Fitbit with geometric? Because it revealed a secret overseas base. This is not even intentional. But if a company can gather enough data, it can tell a lot about the user or a specific group.
Tik tok is a spy tool for China. Period. Just because gullible users agree to it doesn’t make it ok.
If the current admin had any backbone, this would be done a while ago.
Just like Whatsapp, Instagram, Twitter, etc are spy tools for the US. What’s the problem again?
Tik tok is far more invasive. Compare the agreements.
You’re handing over literally everything.
And I don’t disagree about Google and meta.
But being that the US is the US, a Chinese spy tool shouldn’t be collecting from US citizens. It’s bad enough the American government does it. So a foreign government is a definite lockdown/shutdown/ban.
I was curious so I downloaded it and signed in. The data to set up an account is trivial. And you can lie. So what data they have on me is an email address, an incorrect birthdate and a preferred username. Period. “National Security threat? How on earth.
I’m more concerned about the cameras hidden in those made in communist China microwaves. Eyeroll.
And I just looked to double check: it doesn’t ask for access to location services and web app activity tracking is off by default. (iPhone)
LOL
you would be so gullible as to believe they only collect what you think you’re giving them? Read the agreement. They know everything about you from the contents of your phone. The app literally scours your phone for data about you.
They can just asking him one question and to shut him up. “If CCP ask ByteDance to hand over US/EU user data, will and can they refuse”
The answer is simple, NO. There is a Chinese law stated Chinese companies will be required to obey whatever CCP/government ask them to do. Even it is against other Chinese law.
Before calling US/EU hypothetic or dictatorship, can any outside social media company operate in China freely. The answer is no. Not even Chinese media companies/ByteDance can operate freely in China.
A more fair request is if CCP open up Chinese markets to foreign media companies than US/EU should allow Tiktok to operate in the West. But you already know it is impossible.
Good question! I have a question too. What kind of data TikTok have that will interest CCP? I will dare to guess one. Maybe TikTok can provide data that some US officials are interested in watching child porn?
No one can be certain at this point. But what if the app can side load a hidden spyware in the phone.
What if the app can log what you type in other apps.
Remember few years ago, US military ban their soldiers using something like Fitbit with geometric? Because it revealed a secret overseas base. This is not even intentional. But if a company can gather enough data, it can tell a lot about the user or a specific group.
Not in iOS. When an app is submitted to App Sore, Apple will check that it does not do such things.
It will be interesting to see how this plays out if the US actually goes through with a ban. There are probably around 100 million TikTok users in the US alone. Any blanket edict that affects that number of users is going to be seen as wildly Authoritarian and overreaching. It’s along the same lines as the EU threatening to ban iPhones if Apple doesn’t comply with their edicts. I believe Apple sells around 100 million phones a year in the EU.
These Authoritarian threats are being waved around by what are actually a very small number of individuals who feel emboldened by their positions of authority. But in most cases these people and groups are completely ignoring the preferences and choices held by hundreds of millions of people who would be impacted by the power plays being conducted by these small Authoritarian rule makers.
Does anyone think that 100 million EU residents would simply let themselves be forced to purchase a POS Android phone if the iPhone was “banned” by a small group of Authoritarians, many of whom are elected? I don’t see that happening. But of course Apple isn’t going to test those waters and will succumb to the Authoritarians living out their best lives/fantasies as big bad power players.
One of the view things that lots of Ds and Rs agree on is that China is a massive threat to national security. If a ban happens, I think it will be seen as an effort to protect our democracy against a truly authoritarian regime. If a clear majority of citizens support an action of a democratically elected government then, by definition, that action is not authoritarian. One could still argue about whether it's wise or ethical, but it's not authoritarian. Just because you personally don't like something doesn't make it authoritarian.
If by threat to National Security you mean becoming more economically successful than the equivalent US company then yeah I agree.
Comments
This is not a defence of TikTok or ByteDance. This is merely an observation of what has been playing out and how so many conspiracy theories have been thrown around by public servants of the country that are likely just false.
you would be so gullible as to believe they only collect what you think you’re giving them? Read the agreement. They know everything about you from the contents of your phone. The app literally scours your phone for data about you.