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Bipartisan Legislation to Ban TikTok

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Re: Bipartisan Legislation to Ban TikTok

#191

Post by II2II »

AlbertCory wrote: post #88
mrtksn wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Because China is not a good example to follow. It is a dystopian state with full control of what their citizens have access to. Why would you want to have your government to choose the apps for you?

Ah, it's the old slippery-slope argument again. I'm fine with banning all apps from countries that require their app-makers to share data with the government. If that requires an international treaty to codify when a company must share data (e.g. only with a criminal warrant), then great, let's do that. China would refuse to sign that treaty? Even better.

You do realize that this would effectively ban American apps outside of the US? I live in a country that is quite cozy with the US, yet our governments usually have to reject American software since there is no protection for our citizens. Now imagine that applied to the population as a whole.

Re: Bipartisan Legislation to Ban TikTok

#192

Post by UltraViolence »

nikanj wrote: post #142
UltraViolence wrote: post #136

I see this as being inevitable. TikTok and ByteDance are secretly mocking us and ignoring our laws. They keep claiming that the transfer of Americans data to the U.S. is "in progress" and I believe the whole thing is an insider company joke. In the meantime they simply keep pilfering and abusing our data. What's worse, unscrupulous advertisers are actually taking disadvantage of their illegal behavior to advertise to…

These same legislators are absolutely furious when the EU fines Facebook. I think Meta respects EU laws about as much as TikTok respects US laws

The EU is running a risky gambit by attacking U.S. tech giants whilst doing next to nothing against Chinese counterparts like TikTok. They're too afraid their population won't be able to buy cheap Chinese trinkets. And Germany is too afraid it won't be able to sell its cars in China and is blindly selling its soul to keep the exports flowing.

They keep forgetting the U.S. is guaranteeing their safety through our NATO commitments. China will only play them out against each other to benefit itself. They're merely children playing amongst the wolves.

Re: Bipartisan Legislation to Ban TikTok

#193

Post by kelseyfrog »

dal wrote: post #14
coliveira wrote: post #11

Other countries should start banning Facebook and Twitter for similar reasons.

They do that but most of the time for the opposite reason. Because their populations might get to know something forbidden and truthful.

The difference between patriot and terrorist is a matter of perspective, huh?

Re: Bipartisan Legislation to Ban TikTok

#194

Post by boomchinolo78 »

dtjb wrote: post #174
maria2 wrote: post #111

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This has nothing to do with user data. People are influenced by the content they see on social media. Allowing a foreign adversary to run the main information network for an entire generation of the population is not a wise move.

What is a "main information network?" Are websites ok? Podcasts?

I don't think you realize how widespread Tiktok usage is. I can reliably predict what Tiktok users will talk about in social events just by a few minutes of browsing that week's top.

Re: Bipartisan Legislation to Ban TikTok

#195

Post by Lendal »

pseudolus wrote: post #79

"TikTok is digital fentanyl that’s addicting Americans, collecting troves of their data, and censoring their news." Is the conclusion that all forms of digital fentanyl should be banned or just Chinese ones? Because the reality is there's nothing too exceptional about TikTok's underlying algorithms. Will lawmakers be willing enact legislation against companies marketing similar "digital fentanyl" but that are America…

Any country with a track record that makes it prudent to keep a watchful eye on whatever it is they're up to, and to defend your population and strategic interests against it. The CCP is openly an opponent of liberal democracy both at home and abroad. You could take their word for it, or you can judge by their actions. Either way, you arrive at the same conclusion. You treat them the way they ask to be treated.

Re: Bipartisan Legislation to Ban TikTok

#196

Post by jzmorganchase »

time_to_smile wrote: post #185
jzmorganchase wrote: post #84

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is not true. The recent 60 minutes story specifically says the type of content is completely different because it is heavily moderated in China which is the total opposite of what we see in the US or elsewhere outside of China. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0j0xzuh-6rY&ab_channel=60Min...

I'm consistently surprised that many people in the tech community treat China as some unknowable country that we only get a few snippets of insight in from our media. If you work in tech, you most certainly have a few Chinese citizens as coworkers and colleagues. Talk to them about what life is like if you're curious, don't rely on "60 minutes". TikTok in China may be moderated but only to keep anything controversial…

You're saying China doesn't have a time limit on daily use for children? Or the content that is available to kids vs adults isn't different?

There might be some half truths to the 60 minute story but AFAIK the time limit is real and the content available to children is different which is what the piece is referring to. It might be more similar for adults.

Re: Bipartisan Legislation to Ban TikTok

#197

Post by snapcaster »

AlbertCory wrote: post #88
mrtksn wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Because China is not a good example to follow. It is a dystopian state with full control of what their citizens have access to. Why would you want to have your government to choose the apps for you?

Ah, it's the old slippery-slope argument again. I'm fine with banning all apps from countries that require their app-makers to share data with the government. If that requires an international treaty to codify when a company must share data (e.g. only with a criminal warrant), then great, let's do that. China would refuse to sign that treaty? Even better.

This would ban all US apps right?

Re: Bipartisan Legislation to Ban TikTok

#198

Post by AlexandrB »

richwater wrote: post #160
hackernewds wrote: post #128

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Exactly. this seems like a boon to the Meta flavor or digital fentanyl

Meta at least answers to the United States. Congress could easily introduce data privacy legislation. Fuck TikTok.

TikTok also answers to the United States if it wants to continue operating here. If Congress passed a privacy bill, TikTok would have to comply like all other social media companies.

Re: Bipartisan Legislation to Ban TikTok

#199

Post by tippytippytango »

rayiner wrote: post #100

I don’t understand the bi-partisan dislike of Tik Tok. As far as content goes, it’s pretty wholesome compared to what you see on movies and TV these days. It’s much better at giving kids age appropriate content than other sites. There is also a lot less commercialized stuff. Way better than cartoons that peddle toys and junk.

For me it started wholesome, it used to make me happy when I used Tik Tok. Comedy, music, interesting self development content. All of it from clever and innovative independent content creators. Then it slid into exclusively red pill and relationship content that pushes a deeply cynical and pessimistic view of relationships. It appeals to something in my brain the same way a car crash or train wreck does. I know it's a distortion and will poison all of my healthy relationships if I really let it sink in, yet I found myself not wanting to look away, so I uninstalled the app.

If Tik Tok stayed the way it was when I first got into it I'd say it's fine, but the content it pushes now makes me concerned it will poison our culture with apathy, pessimism and cynicism.

Re: Bipartisan Legislation to Ban TikTok

#200

Post by jonathankoren »

“The [Inter]Net interprets censorship as damage and routes around it.” — John Gilmore, 1993

“Now there's no question China has been trying to crack down on the Internet. Good luck! That's sort of like trying to nail jello to the wall.” — Bill Clinton, 2000

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