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House passes bill to force TikTok sale from Chinese owner or ban the app

nytimes.com

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Re: House passes bill to force TikTok sale from Chinese owner or ban the app

#331

Post by avgDev »

MBCook wrote: post #307

Ignoring everything else TikTok screwed up. They’re m being accused of having the ability to manipulate public opinion and elections. So what did they do? Push alerts to millions of users telling them of a possible ban and helping them call their representatives to change a political issue’s fortunes. Oops. All of a sudden a ton of representatives who were on the fence jumped off and joined the bandwagon.

Apparently some kids were calling crying saying that they will kill themselves if they ban the app. Absolutely crazy.

TikTok trying to sway users made a huge mistake.

Re: House passes bill to force TikTok sale from Chinese owner or ban the app

#332

Post by tcptomato »

aprilthird2021 wrote: post #223
codekaze wrote: post #213

I think the primary argument for banning TikTok should be based on reciprocity rather than moral and/or security concerns. We can make similar arguments about the negative effects of Facebook, Instagram, and etc. even from the POVs of other countries, but the key issue here is that China heavily restricts foreign apps and services from operating in their market. If China is unwilling to allow US companies to compete…

>If China is unwilling to allow US companies to compete fairly in their digital ecosystem, why the hell should we continue to grant Chinese firms unrestricted access to our market? Because we are (used to be?) a country that believes in democracy and the will of our citizens. If people want to download a Chinese app and watch straight up Chinese news and propaganda (not even close to what TikTok actually is), they sh…

This isn't a First Amendment issue, it's regulating commerce with a foreign nation.

Re: House passes bill to force TikTok sale from Chinese owner or ban the app

#334

Post by kyrra »

The actual bill is here: https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/7521

And I think the interesting bit is what is considered a covered company: https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/7521...

The wording could be applied to many companies, including chat apps like Telegram. The only saving grace is that the company has to be controlled by a "foreign adversary", and it seems to explicitly list and target byte dance only.

Re: House passes bill to force TikTok sale from Chinese owner or ban the app

#335

Post by nomel »

JumpCrisscross wrote: post #243
bluefishinit wrote: post #240

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This level of censorship isn't good, it's very bad. It's also concerning the speed at which the government mobilized to do this. It's a rapid crackdown on free speech and individual freedom.

> censorship Nothing is being censored. If ByteDance refuses to sell, TikTok will be removed from App Stores and have to find new web hosting. TikTok.com will still resolve fine.

Could you help me understand how that isn't censorship, with more steps?

Re: House passes bill to force TikTok sale from Chinese owner or ban the app

#336

Post by mckn1ght »

potatototoo99 wrote: post #308
digging wrote: post #264

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> If people want to download a Chinese app and watch straight up Chinese news and propaganda ... That's the entire idea of the First Amendment... > Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.…

Freedom of speech includes not being prohibited from listening to other people's speech.

The first amendment in the bill of rights in the US constitution prevents the US government from restricting the speech of US citizens. It doesn’t say anything about foreign nationals with no status in the US. The government also has the authority to deport whomever it likes, impose tariffs and restrict imports.

Regardless of moral stance, that is the reality as I see it.

Re: House passes bill to force TikTok sale from Chinese owner or ban the app

#338

Post by digging »

potatototoo99 wrote: post #308
digging wrote: post #264

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> If people want to download a Chinese app and watch straight up Chinese news and propaganda ... That's the entire idea of the First Amendment... > Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.…

Freedom of speech includes not being prohibited from listening to other people's speech.

Do you have case citations to prove that claim?

Even if you do, that's not what is happening here. At all.

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