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India bans TikTok, WeChat, and dozens of other Chinese apps

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Re: India bans TikTok, WeChat, and dozens of other Chinese apps

#51

Post by Avamander »

hnaccy wrote: post #46
saltedonion wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Tiktok can be a huge threat because their recommendation algorithms are black box. This makes them capable of controlling how potentially dangerous information is disseminated in the United States, including topics influencing elections.

>And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? If you're concerned about Tiktok influence where most content can be described as attractive young people do nonsense on camera you should be much more worried about Twitter, Facebook, Google, News media, Reddit, etc.

Why not both?

Re: India bans TikTok, WeChat, and dozens of other Chinese apps

#52

Post by u801e »

chrisco255 wrote: post #25
cm2187 wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Overnight, I agree. But I think the decoupling will happen. The outsourcing to China took about 10 years (mid 90s to mid 2000s). It will likely not take a lot longer to decouple. 10y is very rapid.

We in the U.S. should have partnered more closely with India in the first place. India is democratic and hold values closer to our own. The CCP not so much.

> India is democratic and hold values closer to our own.

Especially in terms of mixing religion and politics and right-wing based supremacy views.

Re: India bans TikTok, WeChat, and dozens of other Chinese apps

#54

Post by kumarvvr »

markovbot wrote: post #3
president wrote: post #2

Glad to see India understanding the threat to national security posed by these apps. I would like to see the US do the same.

I would find it very problematic if the US government attempted to interfere with it's citizens downloading whatever software they want. I absolutely do not trust the US government to be the arbitrator of what app's are "safe".

The average citizen is dumb enough to not be able to discern spyware from innocent apps.

It is the duty of the government to protect its citizens from foreign influence and banning apps is a legitimate exercise of the govts power in fulfilling that duty.

Re: India bans TikTok, WeChat, and dozens of other Chinese apps

#55

Post by yumraj »

sanmon3186 wrote: post #7

This ban is primarily to satiate anti-China sentiment. The global economy is too interwined with China. No country can afford to put a blanket ban on things that matter, without a viable plan-B.

You have to start somewhere, this is a starting point.

It's better than just raising the hands and saying that it cannot be done.

Re: India bans TikTok, WeChat, and dozens of other Chinese apps

#56

Post by enahs-sf »

chrisco255 wrote: post #15
baybal2 wrote: post #11

Almost all (except 1) are Chinese made. I'm sure it has absolutely nothing to do with this https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/china-has-intruded-423-metre...

Yeah: https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-india-china/indians-hold-f... China is basically using these apps as spyware.

This. Tiktok is clearly a data vacuum masquerading as a social media platform.

Re: India bans TikTok, WeChat, and dozens of other Chinese apps

#57

Post by ianleeclark »

saltedonion wrote: post #42

India is absolutely right in banning TikTok as it is a significant national securities threat. As long as the platforms recommendation and ranking algos are a black box, there is no guarantee that China isn’t conducting misinformation campaigns via the platform. At the very least, the government should audit the algos and make sure China can’t arbitrarily alter ranking results.

Are YouTube algorithms open? I don't really see a difference here. Nation state vs. private corporation is different on paper, but I don't see why. They're both going to react to material stimuli to increase their standings.

Re: India bans TikTok, WeChat, and dozens of other Chinese apps

#58

Post by fauigerzigerk »

systemvoltage wrote: post #16
markovbot wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I would find it very problematic if the US government attempted to interfere with it's citizens downloading whatever software they want. I absolutely do not trust the US government to be the arbitrator of what app's are "safe".

What are your thoughts about China banning anything but local apps/services for domestic use but the rest of the world is OK with allowing Chinese apps/services to compete with the domestic apps/services? I think there is some level of asymmetry here, not sure how best to resolve it without giving up the citizen's freedoms as you expressed. This asymmetry is problematic because western democracies are barred to profi…

Perhaps we should make a distinction between the right for citizens to obtain the apps and the right for Chinese sellers to monetise them.

Re: India bans TikTok, WeChat, and dozens of other Chinese apps

#59

Post by mratsim »

amrrs wrote: post #40

Covid cases are on rise in India. Government didn't handle lockdown well to accommodate guest (migrant) workers and they were stranded. On top of all these, lives of Indian soldiers died recently in a clash with Chinese soldiers and China is continuously testing limits at Galwan Valley. You need a disruptive breaking news to crush all these and prove Government is in control. This is simply that. This is nothing but…

Seems like they learned from Trump and the change in visa/immigration to distract the public.

Re: India bans TikTok, WeChat, and dozens of other Chinese apps

#60

Post by ralmidani »

markovbot wrote: post #3
president wrote: post #2

Glad to see India understanding the threat to national security posed by these apps. I would like to see the US do the same.

I would find it very problematic if the US government attempted to interfere with it's citizens downloading whatever software they want. I absolutely do not trust the US government to be the arbitrator of what app's are "safe".

While I share your skepticism toward the US government, phone apps are different from books and even from websites; I don’t trust apps made by a company subject to CCP influence and/or control, nor do I think the usual arguments against censorship apply.
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