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Microsoft Statement on TikTok

blogs.microsoft.com

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Re: Microsoft Statement on TikTok

#21

Post by Waterluvian »

patrickaljord wrote: post #20

> We are confident our proposal would have been good for TikTok’s users, while protecting national security interests Does anyone seriously believe TikTok is a threat to national security? > combatting disinformation There you have it. I've seen TikTok videos go viral being really critical of the US government including its foreign policy. The kind of video that would just be invisible or outright banned from Youtube…

I think the last four or so years have proven without a doubt that command of social media gives immense power to threaten the national security of others.

I have no thoughts on if they are a threat right now, but I think they are a very interesting and possibly powerful piece on the board for the future.

Re: Microsoft Statement on TikTok

#22

Post by ericmay »

patrickaljord wrote: post #20

> We are confident our proposal would have been good for TikTok’s users, while protecting national security interests Does anyone seriously believe TikTok is a threat to national security? > combatting disinformation There you have it. I've seen TikTok videos go viral being really critical of the US government including its foreign policy. The kind of video that would just be invisible or outright banned from Youtube…

I think the main issue is this:

The US views Chinese social media apps as being able to spread criticism (and most likely propaganda) and the US can’t do likewise in China, so they’ll just not let Chinese social media companies operate in the US until that changes.

There will be 0 official, influential Chinese social media companies operating in the US on a permanent basis until the CCP let’s US social media companies operate in China. This has bipartisan support.

Re: Microsoft Statement on TikTok

#23

Post by DethNinja »

ericmay wrote: post #17
DethNinja wrote: post #14

So basically if you want to serve the USA market, you have to give up the shares of your company to ruling class of USA? This is eerily similar to how communist China operates.

So far it’s only been communist Chinese companies that have had to go through this (to my knowledge) in recent times. Tit for tat and al that. Maybe if China let Facebook, Twitter, etc operate then we wouldn’t have this problem.

There is no such thing as tit for a tat in a civilisation with rule of law. Either USA had privacy laws that forbid Tik Tok from participating in USA marketplace or USA doesn’t have rule of law and operates under some form of dictatorship.

Re: Microsoft Statement on TikTok

#24

Post by dragonwriter »

patrickaljord wrote: post #20

> We are confident our proposal would have been good for TikTok’s users, while protecting national security interests Does anyone seriously believe TikTok is a threat to national security? > combatting disinformation There you have it. I've seen TikTok videos go viral being really critical of the US government including its foreign policy. The kind of video that would just be invisible or outright banned from Youtube…

> Does anyone seriously believe TikTok is a threat to national security?

This deceit was the fundamental legal premise of the forced sale.

Of course it's bullshit. But even though it failed to win, Microsoft was a willing and active participant in the bullshit from day one, and can’t really call the game out now without acknowledging it's willful collaboration in the deceit when it held the potential for profit.

Plus, it would anger the petulant and corrupt executive who they are currently counting on favoring them and opposing Google in other executive actions, and they don't want to risk losing favor on that.

Re: Microsoft Statement on TikTok

#25

Post by WillPostForFood »

patrickaljord wrote: post #20

> We are confident our proposal would have been good for TikTok’s users, while protecting national security interests Does anyone seriously believe TikTok is a threat to national security? > combatting disinformation There you have it. I've seen TikTok videos go viral being really critical of the US government including its foreign policy. The kind of video that would just be invisible or outright banned from Youtube…

>Does anyone seriously believe TikTok is a threat to national security?

Everyone who believes Facebook was used to influence the 2016 election should believe TikTok poses a similar threat. I'd agree that the threat is overblown, but many serious people, in good faith, seriously believe it.

Re: Microsoft Statement on TikTok

#26

Post by tmpz22 »

patrickaljord wrote: post #20

> We are confident our proposal would have been good for TikTok’s users, while protecting national security interests Does anyone seriously believe TikTok is a threat to national security? > combatting disinformation There you have it. I've seen TikTok videos go viral being really critical of the US government including its foreign policy. The kind of video that would just be invisible or outright banned from Youtube…

A lot of creepy older men use TikTok to hit on underage girls [1], inevitably the long tail chat histories and browsing behaviors will provide ample blackmail material on future politicians, judges, and military members.

[1]: ask your nieces, daughters, or young female friends, about their experience if they ever set their Instagram or tiktok to public.

Re: Microsoft Statement on TikTok

#28

Post by DelightOne »

DethNinja wrote: post #23
ericmay wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So far it’s only been communist Chinese companies that have had to go through this (to my knowledge) in recent times. Tit for tat and al that. Maybe if China let Facebook, Twitter, etc operate then we wouldn’t have this problem.

There is no such thing as tit for a tat in a civilisation with rule of law. Either USA had privacy laws that forbid Tik Tok from participating in USA marketplace or USA doesn’t have rule of law and operates under some form of dictatorship.

The world is not black and white.

Re: Microsoft Statement on TikTok

#30

Post by superfrank »

patrickaljord wrote: post #20

> We are confident our proposal would have been good for TikTok’s users, while protecting national security interests Does anyone seriously believe TikTok is a threat to national security? > combatting disinformation There you have it. I've seen TikTok videos go viral being really critical of the US government including its foreign policy. The kind of video that would just be invisible or outright banned from Youtube…

> Does anyone seriously believe TikTok is a threat to national security?

I think they are in the sense that they're collecting massive amounts of user data about their users and I believe they wouldn't hesitate to share that data with the Chinese government if asked.

On the flip side, I also think their threat to our national security is being made a bigger deal than it actually is by politicians who have an anti-Chinese agenda and companies who see an easy way to cripple a competitor.

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