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Microsoft and Bytedance Put TikTok Talks on Hold After Trump Signals Opposition

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Re: Microsoft and Bytedance Put TikTok Talks on Hold After Trump Signals Opposition

#41

Post by kanox »

scarface74 wrote: post #36
zmmmmm wrote: post #13

The idea that corporations are kowtowing to a polticians individual personal wishes - rather than operating under a framework of laws and regulations based on principles and administered fairly to all - should be offensive to every single American, regardless of who the players are or their country of origin.

Well, This is what HN posters want. As evidence by the numerous downvotes I get about not wanting the government involvement in tech. Even after the dog and pony show with the CEO’s last week where one representative grilled Zuckerberg about Twitter’s treatment of Don Jr.

The worst political development over the last decade is the very wide embracing of corporate censorship. It is now widely accepted that media platforms have an explicit duty to control public opinion.

In this context any large foreign media outlet becomes a threat.

Re: Microsoft and Bytedance Put TikTok Talks on Hold After Trump Signals Opposition

#42

Post by ptx »

ardit33 wrote: post #20

If Tiktok was European/Japanese/Korean/Canadian this would not happen, as those countries are free democracies and work with a similar/common rule of law 1. China doesn’t play with the same rules, and it has been proven to be a malicious player 2. They don’t allow western companies to operate freely in their country, why should we let them to? 3. The US and to a lesser degree Europe, are in a de-facto new Cold War, a…

> 1. China doesn’t play with the same rules ...

> 2. They don’t allow ..., why should we let them to?

Because, as you said in your first point, we play by different rules. Do you want everyone to start playing by China's rules instead?

Re: Microsoft and Bytedance Put TikTok Talks on Hold After Trump Signals Opposition

#43

Post by Slartie »

marcinzm wrote: post #28
jackson1442 wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If the government wants to restrict the ability of Chinese business to grow in the US, that's fine, but it should be under the existing framework of law that we follow. This should be passed through Congress and the SC as a law , not an executive order. We have Checks & Balances for a reason.

Executive orders aren't magic, there's some law they will reference as giving the president the power to issue such an order.

Except for there being this joker called "national security" which magically allows practically anything to be ordered by the executive, because you can obviously reframe anything into a matter of national security, even short video clips of dancing teenagers.

Re: Microsoft and Bytedance Put TikTok Talks on Hold After Trump Signals Opposition

#44

Post by cscurmudgeon »

puranjay wrote: post #29
ganfortran wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I doubt that is the case. Look up how Japanese companies are treated in late 80s and 90s. When one felt under threat, all rules will be forgone.

Free Market for me, not for thee

Is China a free market for non-Chinese companies?

Re: Microsoft and Bytedance Put TikTok Talks on Hold After Trump Signals Opposition

#45

Post by squarefoot »

Seasonwreckage wrote: post #22
zmmmmm wrote: post #13

The idea that corporations are kowtowing to a polticians individual personal wishes - rather than operating under a framework of laws and regulations based on principles and administered fairly to all - should be offensive to every single American, regardless of who the players are or their country of origin.

Even more pronounced is the silence of life long legislators who were always opposed to this kind of strong man government all along. Ps: I side with Trump on this one. Just hate the fact that no Republican opposes him anymore.

> Just hate the fact that no Republican opposes him anymore.

Many do, few have the guts to admit it publicly. Politics is still a business after all.

As an example, The Lincoln Project is made by past and current republicans strongly opposing Trump. https://lincolnproject.us/

Re: Microsoft and Bytedance Put TikTok Talks on Hold After Trump Signals Opposition

#46

Post by scarface74 »

kanox wrote: post #41
scarface74 wrote: post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well, This is what HN posters want. As evidence by the numerous downvotes I get about not wanting the government involvement in tech. Even after the dog and pony show with the CEO’s last week where one representative grilled Zuckerberg about Twitter’s treatment of Don Jr.

The worst political development over the last decade is the very wide embracing of corporate censorship. It is now widely accepted that media platforms have an explicit duty to control public opinion. In this context any large foreign media outlet becomes a threat.

I keep hearing this mostly from the conservative side when Trump got elected mostly by bypassing traditional media and using Twitter and social media.

What do you propose? More government involvement to tell tech what they can do on their own platform? Isn’t it kind of hypocritical that the anti regulation party wants regulation when it suits them?

Re: Microsoft and Bytedance Put TikTok Talks on Hold After Trump Signals Opposition

#47

Post by kanox »

shiado wrote: post #37
kanox wrote: post #2

I can't believe business deals with such explicit political motivations are being considered.

Every single piece of law granting the US government authority on national security grounds has enjoyed bipartisan support for a very long time. I'm only surprised it hasn't been used like this earlier.

Treating foreign media as a "national security issue" is extremely scary. This is not something that free societies do.

Re: Microsoft and Bytedance Put TikTok Talks on Hold After Trump Signals Opposition

#48

Post by splintercell »

javagram wrote: post #30
bgorman wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why would a media company be special. This type of thing happens all the time, for example the US government banned a Chinese company from purchasing Lattice Semiconductor, the third biggest FPGA company (and really a much smaller player than the big two).

If the president is taking this actions in retaliation for the expression of free speech on the platform (TikTok audience skews young, which is a very anti-trump demographic) that may violate the First Amendment if proven. Viewpoint discrimination is against the first amendment. We know Trump wasn’t offended by the idea that foreign countries might be trying to help him get elected, and has repeatedly called it a “Ru…

Tiktok is the only platform where Trump supporters aren't banned. Not to mention, (white) zoomers lean very much to the right.

Re: Microsoft and Bytedance Put TikTok Talks on Hold After Trump Signals Opposition

#49

Post by threeseed »

zmmmmm wrote: post #13

The idea that corporations are kowtowing to a polticians individual personal wishes - rather than operating under a framework of laws and regulations based on principles and administered fairly to all - should be offensive to every single American, regardless of who the players are or their country of origin.

But it is under a framework of laws and regulations.

All governments, including the US, have the legal right to ban companies and block mergers/acquisitions on national security grounds.

Each company has different issues hence why the idea of it not being discretionary doesn't make sense.

Re: Microsoft and Bytedance Put TikTok Talks on Hold After Trump Signals Opposition

#50

Post by bigpumpkin »

ardit33 wrote: post #20

If Tiktok was European/Japanese/Korean/Canadian this would not happen, as those countries are free democracies and work with a similar/common rule of law 1. China doesn’t play with the same rules, and it has been proven to be a malicious player 2. They don’t allow western companies to operate freely in their country, why should we let them to? 3. The US and to a lesser degree Europe, are in a de-facto new Cold War, a…

1. There's the First Amendment in the US

2. Tens of millions of Americans use Tiktok as a platform for speech.

3. Now Trump wants to prohibit the platform which enables the free exercise of political speech against him.

What's more important, geopolitical considerations or the Constitution?

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