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TikTok will not introduce end-to-end encryption, saying it makes users less safe

bbc.com

21–30 of 458 posts

Re: TikTok will not introduce end-to-end encryption, saying it makes users less safe

#21
post #9

BBC calling encryption "controversial privacy tech" is deeply disappointing and dangerous.

The UK government seems a lot more willing to embrace the panopticon in the name of protecting people from terrorists, child sex traffickers, human rights activists, Catholics, jaywalkers, you name it.

Re: TikTok will not introduce end-to-end encryption, saying it makes users less safe

#23
TikTok’s stance against end-to-end encryption is unsurprising but still concerning. TikTok is a source of information on many topics, such as the genocide in Gaza, which traditional media underreport and many governments try to suppress. The network effect of big social media platforms means many people will likely talk about these topics in TikTok DMs. No matter what legal controls TikTok claims to enforce, there is no substitute for technological barriers for preventing invasions of privacy and government overreach. This is yet another example where corporations and governments sacrifice people’s autonomy and privacy in the name of security.

Re: TikTok will not introduce end-to-end encryption, saying it makes users less safe

#24
post #9

BBC calling encryption "controversial privacy tech" is deeply disappointing and dangerous.

I wondered how it could be considered 'controversial', but they do quote at least a couple groups speaking against it. The NSPCC for instance, who incidentally also warned parents about a Harry Potter video game because their children might want to learn more about the game:

>“Parents should also be aware that players may want to find out more about the game using other platforms such as YouTube, Twitch, Reddit and Discord, where other game fans can discuss strategies and experiences.

Re: TikTok will not introduce end-to-end encryption, saying it makes users less safe

#25
post #17
post #3

I feel like this makes sense for a platform that targets teens. Plus, I wouldn't trust TikTok to implement E2E encryption properly—who knows what they've snuck into their client.

What kind of application is not targeted at both teens and adults? Youtube, twitter, bluesky, whatsapp? Every app with a social aspect will be used by teens. And no, tiktok is not "only for teens" or "specially targeted at teens", nowadays everyone uses it and creates content on it.

Came here to post this.

If you run (say) a restaurant, you get big spikes in business from TikTok videos in ways you don't get from Facebook or Instagram or others.

TikTok is the platform everyone is one right now.

Re: TikTok will not introduce end-to-end encryption, saying it makes users less safe

#26
post #20

This might be off-topic but on-topic about child safety... but I'm surprised people are being myopic about age verification. Age verification should be banned, but people ignore that nowadays most widely used online services already ask for your age and act accordingly: twitter, youtube, google in general, any online marketplace. They already got so much data on their users and optimize their algorithms for those gro…

Monitoring children's DMs is the responsibility of the parents, not megacorps. If a parent wants to install a keylogger or screen recorder on their child's PC, that's their decision. But Google should not be able to. Neither should... literally anyone else except maybe an employer on a work-provided device.

Re: TikTok will not introduce end-to-end encryption, saying it makes users less safe

#27

TikTok’s stance against end-to-end encryption is unsurprising but still concerning. TikTok is a source of information on many topics, such as the genocide in Gaza, which traditional media underreport and many governments try to suppress. The network effect of big social media platforms means many people will likely talk about these topics in TikTok DMs. No matter what legal controls TikTok claims to enforce, there is…

It's a pretty terrifying world we live in now, where an unencrypted addictive short-form video platform is considered a source of information more than news agencies or even community-managed forums.

Re: TikTok will not introduce end-to-end encryption, saying it makes users less safe

#28
post #20

This might be off-topic but on-topic about child safety... but I'm surprised people are being myopic about age verification. Age verification should be banned, but people ignore that nowadays most widely used online services already ask for your age and act accordingly: twitter, youtube, google in general, any online marketplace. They already got so much data on their users and optimize their algorithms for those gro…

Monitoring children's DMs is the responsibility of the parents, not megacorps. If a parent wants to install a keylogger or screen recorder on their child's PC, that's their decision. But Google should not be able to. Neither should... literally anyone else except maybe an employer on a work-provided device.

Parents shouldn't give their child access to a device that allows DMs.

That said, these platforms are making it impossible for parents to monitor anything. They're literally designed to profit off addiction in children.

Re: TikTok will not introduce end-to-end encryption, saying it makes users less safe

#30
post #6

Why would you use TikTok for private communications anyway? It's mostly a public short video sharing platform.

The way it starts is you pass videos back and forth with a friend. Then you find yourself chatting in the same app.

I'm mindful that it's less secure than other apps, but for a lot of chats it doesn't matter.

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