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As TikTok grows, so does suspicion

economist.com

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Re: As TikTok grows, so does suspicion

#381

Post by vineyardmike »

stale2002 wrote: post #61
dqpb wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> TikTok is technically not a Chinese company I guess the economist has it wrong then: > As the first consumer-facing app from China to take off in the West, TikTok is a source of pride in Beijing. But the app’s Chinese ownership makes politicians elsewhere uneasy about its tightening grip on their citizens’ attention

The point being here is that the company ownership is setup in a complicate way, that is different than just being straight up controlled by china. As in, there are apparently sub companies, that are in the US, not in china, that makes it different.

Tell that to zoom.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2020/12/18/zoom-he...

Re: As TikTok grows, so does suspicion

#382

Post by [deleted] »

ciroduran wrote: post #244
fabianhjr wrote: post #238

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I am from latin america and at least neither China nor Russia have participated in coup d'etat to install a military junta to then torture and massacre anyone slightly left of the US "Democratic" Party. Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2khAmMTAjI

Hi from Venezuela

[deleted]

Re: As TikTok grows, so does suspicion

#383

Post by sumnole »

qwertass wrote: post #291

Totally leaving FB for Tik Tok after seeing all these stupid articles.

About ready to leave Hacker News with all the anti-globalist and anti-decentralist sentiment I've been seeing.

Valid arguments are grayed out and the top comment is an unfounded "TikTok is the most successful espionage operation of the 21st century". Looks like HN can't break out of its own bubble.

Re: As TikTok grows, so does suspicion

#384

Post by dburflzz »

jacooper wrote: post #141
winternett wrote: post #22

I don't think it's the privacy issues that will defeat TikTok, I think it's the deception of a success economy being possible on the platform. In the past few weeks I've been observing a lot of marginal content trending on the platform which indicates to me that a lot of the more quality posters aren't posting new content. The minute quality creators leave a platform is the minute it dies. TikTok has not really been…

> The minute quality creators leave a platform is the minute it dies. TikTok has not really been rewarding creators fairly, and pushes the idea that organic growth is possible, and that people have become really successful, but many creators realize after months of working for little to no reward that it's a false narrative. I heard the opposite story from 2 creators in my local language. Their growth on Tiktok is cr…

How do users know that those followers are human?

Re: As TikTok grows, so does suspicion

#385

Post by colordrops »

Calvin02 wrote: post #223
madeofpalk wrote: post #216

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As a non-US, non-Chinese citizen, is there something that makes TikTok espionage and Facebook not? Or is it just "china scary"?

Yes. China and Russia are the biggest geopolitical threats to the world. It is surprisingly that simple. While the US and the western governments have their issues, they are still largely law abiding. China, however, is not. Additionally, under Xi, it has become more authoritarian and more willing to undo the rules based order that has someone kept the world somewhat sane since WWII. I don’t know why anyone would be…

The simplistic language if your post reads as blind patriotism or jingoism. To suggest that the US is more law abiding is absurd, considering the countless wars of agression and covert actions. The problem with any debate on this subject is that every evil action by the US is "justified" somehow, and every action by others is the work of madman dictator, and by default wrong. It's impossible to discuss.

Edit: to be clear, I don't condone China's actions. I see both the US and China as very bad actors on the world stage.

Re: As TikTok grows, so does suspicion

#386

Post by vorpalhex »

meowtimemania wrote: post #50
ectopod wrote: post #21

China passed a law a couple of years ago requiring all Chinese companies to give the government live access to their databases. Is TikTok exempt? If not, statements that the government hasn't requested any data are misleading. They don't need to.

Is there any type of due process for when the Chinese government accesses data? Like do they need some court order? Or can a government official just go browse the databases for fun?

There is as much due process for your data in China as there are for Muslim Uighers being thrown into camps: none.

Re: As TikTok grows, so does suspicion

#387

Post by AussieWog93 »

Al-Khwarizmi wrote: post #326
illuminati1911 wrote: post #309

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Quoted post unavailable.

You call the overwhelming majority of the world population unwashed savages whose opinion must be disregarded, and then sit there in disbelief that most people might dislike see your country (of which, sadly, that attitude is quite representative) as a threat. It would be good parody if it weren't real.

Don't take it personally. They do the same thing to locals who disagree with their opinions too.

Re: As TikTok grows, so does suspicion

#388

Post by [deleted] »

duxup wrote: post #300
mathverse wrote: post #57

I am really annoyed at how we (EU) and the US treat chinese companies and citizens. We (europeans and americans) cant do really anything in China, we have essentially no rights and cant really conduct business. Unlike chinese who are pretty much granted all of that when they want to immigrate or conduct business in EU/US.

Agreed. If US or EU companies can’t operate similarly in China, I see no reason to allow it the other way.

[deleted]

Re: As TikTok grows, so does suspicion

#389

Post by anothernewdude »

fabianhjr wrote: post #238
Calvin02 wrote: post #223

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes. China and Russia are the biggest geopolitical threats to the world. It is surprisingly that simple. While the US and the western governments have their issues, they are still largely law abiding. China, however, is not. Additionally, under Xi, it has become more authoritarian and more willing to undo the rules based order that has someone kept the world somewhat sane since WWII. I don’t know why anyone would be…

I am from latin america and at least neither China nor Russia have participated in coup d'etat to install a military junta to then torture and massacre anyone slightly left of the US "Democratic" Party. Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2khAmMTAjI

Russia has put down multiple popular uprisings within its sphere - Belarus, Kazakhstan. Invaded Georgia, and Ukraine to effect regime change. And looks to be behind the Coup in Mali and one in Montenegro.

China has supported violent Juntas in Myanmar, and Sudan. It has essentially performed a coup in Hong Kong. And of course it loves supplying weapons to latin countries via Norinco. And it's doing economic damage and putting more of those countries in debt, just like it took Hambantota International Port from Sri Lanka.

Both are racking up kills elsewhere in Africa too.

Re: As TikTok grows, so does suspicion

#390

Post by sidlls »

madeofpalk wrote: post #216
mkl95 wrote: post #212

TikTok is the most successful espionage operation of the 21st century so far, and it is based on a simple idea - people will happily give away their data and privacy if you consistently entertain them. In my opinion the application should be shut down as soon as possible, but there are many lessons to learn from it. And most of them have little to do with technology.

As a non-US, non-Chinese citizen, is there something that makes TikTok espionage and Facebook not? Or is it just "china scary"?

I like these kinds of replies that minimize the dangers China presents to the world while implying people concerned about the same are just ignorant xenophobes and racists.
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