Microsoft is reportedly in talks to buy TikTok's US operations • Hacker News Board

Re: Microsoft is reportedly in talks to buy TikTok's US operations

#391

Post by leptoniscool » Sat, Aug 01, 2020, 5:22 AM UTC

Causality1 wrote: post #380

xnx wrote: post #376

It appears as though very few Hacker News commenters have spent any time using Tiktok. It is the only enjoyable, enriching social media service I've ever used. Most everything many of us liked about the old/weird internet is present on Tiktok right now: almost no ads or commercial presense, personal content from real people (not hyper produced productions from influencers and pros), weird content, niche content, orga…

But it doesn't make up for the downside, which is installing robust surveillance software on your phone that sends data to and takes orders from China and is subject to their arbitrary control of messaging. You know what else has a super amazing upside that still doesn't make up for the downside? Methamphetamine.

I think you need to look up Edward Snowden.

Re: Microsoft is reportedly in talks to buy TikTok's US operations

#392

Post by graton » Sat, Aug 01, 2020, 5:30 AM UTC

crystaln wrote: post #298

fqye wrote: post #258

If the US forced ByteDance to sell Tiktok, the US would lose its last bit of moral high ground in China, the spirit of free market and rule by law. If you are worried about data leakage to China, you set rules and law and enforce them. That is what China is doing. They asked Apple and other cloud service provider to store data in China. The US could setup clear rules and regulations about where to put data of US user…

You obviously don't have much experience with China. China is an authoritarian state and all companies are subject to secret control by the state, essentially branches of the military. There is no legal recourse or protection from such intervention. The government can mandate spy code be inserted and any data they want. You're well intended here, but ignorant of how China operates. There is literally no way to enforc…

The person you are replying to is Chinese and lives in China. Or at least their post history says so.

Re: Microsoft is reportedly in talks to buy TikTok's US operations

#393

Post by throwaway189262 » Sat, Aug 01, 2020, 5:35 AM UTC

russli1993 wrote: post #292

Nightshaxx wrote: post #261

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The accusations against China is that they do not follow the rules. Stealing IP is very illegal in the US but that didn't (allegedly) stop Waweii. So just saying "make more rules" is not a valid solution if the accusations are true. Byte dance already does store data in the US, but the only way to 100% prove they aren't sending data to China is to regularly audit ISP logs.

Are you talking about Huawei? If there is IP and IP infringement why not sue the company? I thought there is tons of cases of IP lawsuits each year? Huawei has operations in many markets like Europe with strong rule of law, sue Huawei in Europe. There are two law suits against Huawei from Cisco and T-Mobile. The first case both parties settled out of court. Second case is about a phone test arm, and already settled a…

I don't think this has anything to do with who the founders are. This is pure retaliation against China for not allowing US companies to operate there.

It is hard for me to feel bad for one Chinese company banned from operating in the US when China has banned thousands of US companies.

The founders of TikTok should blame Chinese government, it's 100% their fault that the US is retaliating. I am glad US is finally standing up to their unfair restrictions.

Re: Microsoft is reportedly in talks to buy TikTok's US operations

#394

Post by chvid » Sat, Aug 01, 2020, 5:40 AM UTC

xnx wrote: post #376

It appears as though very few Hacker News commenters have spent any time using Tiktok. It is the only enjoyable, enriching social media service I've ever used. Most everything many of us liked about the old/weird internet is present on Tiktok right now: almost no ads or commercial presense, personal content from real people (not hyper produced productions from influencers and pros), weird content, niche content, orga…

So many IT-professionals here; only very few actually sitting down and trying to understand the appeal of this thing.

And so strange to see that everyone assumes that TikTok can be taken apart by a competitor (Triller) paying top creators to shift platform and the rest will just go to Instagram or YouTube.

If you spend some time on TikTok you will notice that the experience is actually not orientated around top creators but is guided by algorithm that entertains you in personalised manner.

What you are seeing not necessary new, not necessary from someone within your social graph.

It is really is something quite different from older social media.

Re: Microsoft is reportedly in talks to buy TikTok's US operations

#395

Post by leptoniscool » Sat, Aug 01, 2020, 5:43 AM UTC

And so the march towards WW3 hastens..

Re: Microsoft is reportedly in talks to buy TikTok's US operations

#396

Post by throwaway189262 » Sat, Aug 01, 2020, 5:44 AM UTC

fqye wrote: post #303

ipsum2 wrote: post #262

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I was going to make a similar comment, but I think your comment is a little exaggerated. Freedom of speech is still differentiates the US and China.

I am not exaggerating about the US losing it credibility in China. The US was really the shining city on the hill before 2008 financial crisis. I personally was huge admirer of the US system. I even spent about 1 year in DC just to study the political system of the US. Before the 2008 financial crisis, China tried to copy everything from the US, from finanical market regulations to education system and to some degree…

Do you not realize it was Xi and his propaganda that caused a massive change in opinion of the west? The state news agencies constantly blames everything on foreigners and the west.

It has nothing to do with financial crises or BLM or whatever. Financial crisis also happened in 2001 and 80's, they happen all the time. BLM protests are insignificant, US has protests constantly because they are not restricted by government.

Handling of COVID is bad, and most of us don't like Trump. But Xi's anti west propaganda is very real and influences all Chinese news and social media. Xi has massively ramped up rhetoric against the west and especially US. That is why majority of Chinese don't respect the US anymore.

You can see Xi saber rattling with US, building basesin South China Sea. Troop fights with India. Bullshit with Tibet Dali llama. Uighur re-education camps. Crackdown on Hong Kong. There's many more. This is why relations with US are going bad. Xi is pissing everyone off to drum up patriotism in China and make Chinese direct anger at foreigners instead of problems with Chinese government

Re: Microsoft is reportedly in talks to buy TikTok's US operations

#397

Post by gigatexal » Sat, Aug 01, 2020, 5:45 AM UTC

xnx wrote: post #376

It appears as though very few Hacker News commenters have spent any time using Tiktok. It is the only enjoyable, enriching social media service I've ever used. Most everything many of us liked about the old/weird internet is present on Tiktok right now: almost no ads or commercial presense, personal content from real people (not hyper produced productions from influencers and pros), weird content, niche content, orga…

As long as it’s a Chinese owned surveillance application I’ll not touch it. I got rid of Facebook for similar reasons (s/Chinese/American).

I’m not sure I see the synergies MSFT gets from TikTok - a Snap Inc., makes more sense as a buyer to me.

Re: Microsoft is reportedly in talks to buy TikTok's US operations

#398

Post by ktln2 » Sat, Aug 01, 2020, 5:47 AM UTC

fqye wrote: post #258

If the US forced ByteDance to sell Tiktok, the US would lose its last bit of moral high ground in China, the spirit of free market and rule by law. If you are worried about data leakage to China, you set rules and law and enforce them. That is what China is doing. They asked Apple and other cloud service provider to store data in China. The US could setup clear rules and regulations about where to put data of US user…

This is giving China a taste of it's own medicine - pretty sure EU or Japan would love to see this given the treatment of their companies in China.

Re: Microsoft is reportedly in talks to buy TikTok's US operations

#399

Post by garceus » Sat, Aug 01, 2020, 5:50 AM UTC

tly_alex wrote: post #384

fqye wrote: post #258

If the US forced ByteDance to sell Tiktok, the US would lose its last bit of moral high ground in China, the spirit of free market and rule by law. If you are worried about data leakage to China, you set rules and law and enforce them. That is what China is doing. They asked Apple and other cloud service provider to store data in China. The US could setup clear rules and regulations about where to put data of US user…

It's extraordinary to see an once open and welcoming governement to become xenophobic and ruleless. In the last 10 years, when things like this happen in other country, you would hear POTUS or media condemn this kind of action by referring to an once sacred word like "law" and "due process". Just like the double standard on delaying the election, it's ok to delay election due to COVID in US, but it's perfectly fine t…

Good points, there are definite examples of double standards regarding US and its portrayal of rival countries like China

Re: Microsoft is reportedly in talks to buy TikTok's US operations

#400

Post by mythz » Sat, Aug 01, 2020, 5:51 AM UTC

This would be hugely disappointing, the first international appealing social network outside of US Tech giants and they're potentially being forced to sell due to US Govt political strong arming. The world could use some diversity away from the US Tech giants.

As an aside, TikTok is the happiest & most enjoyable social network I've frequented, a few seconds to show off some talent is a great way to burn some downtime with unique entertainment. Would hate to see it fragmented & acquired, especially to a US giant.