Live data from Hacker News

TikTok goes dark in the US

techcrunch.com

391–400 of 1001 posts

Re: TikTok goes dark in the US

#391
post #257

Unreal. Land of Freedom bans Social Media app that runs on US servers, on its own terms, with censorship teams staffed by dozens of ex-US State officials[1]. Amazing that Congress will see bipartisan action on this issue before any of the other much more important issues. It absolutely destroys criticisms of China banning Facebook, etc. 1. https://www.mintpressnews.com/tiktok-chinese-trojan-horse-ru...

Wasn't the concern of data being siphoned off to China? Even India has banned it. Where does freedom come into picture here?

I think the better framing is that ByteDance refused to comply with US regulations and spin off TikTok.

If the EU decided WhatsApp should be spun off from Meta (for any number of legitimate reasons) to continue operating there, we wouldn’t claim that the EU banned the app.

Re: TikTok goes dark in the US

#392
post #373

The app was shutdown a couple of hours ago in the US and this was the message all TikTok users saw when they opened the app.[1] The same guy who pushed for a ban massively last year, is going to save the app despite the security concerns he and most of our government said they had. If only we knew what happened in that classified briefing that made them vote together across party lines. [1] https://a57.foxnews.com/st…

Blatantly pandering to Donald Trump is the new ESG, DEI and woke combined for silicon valleys

Haha. DEI is gone unless it’s pro-Trump.

Re: TikTok goes dark in the US

#393

The app was shutdown a couple of hours ago in the US and this was the message all TikTok users saw when they opened the app.[1] The same guy who pushed for a ban massively last year, is going to save the app despite the security concerns he and most of our government said they had. If only we knew what happened in that classified briefing that made them vote together across party lines. [1] https://a57.foxnews.com/st…

This is bizarre.. Maybe I'm wrong but is a president even allowed just unilaterally decide to revoke a law ? Maybe the US should just create some privacy protections instead ?

My understanding is that the law doesn’t ban TikTok. The law gives the president the power to ban TikTok. So the president can elect not to use said power.

Re: TikTok goes dark in the US

#394
The Communications Act of 1934 limits foreign ownership of many communication technologies such as TV. TikTok has easily more influence than most TV channels so it does not seem strange to limit its foreign ownership. If the purchase of US steel by a Japanese company threatens national security, surely the ownership of TikTok is also one.

Re: TikTok goes dark in the US

#395

The app was shutdown a couple of hours ago in the US and this was the message all TikTok users saw when they opened the app.[1] The same guy who pushed for a ban massively last year, is going to save the app despite the security concerns he and most of our government said they had. If only we knew what happened in that classified briefing that made them vote together across party lines. [1] https://a57.foxnews.com/st…

This is bizarre.. Maybe I'm wrong but is a president even allowed just unilaterally decide to revoke a law ? Maybe the US should just create some privacy protections instead ?

> Maybe I'm wrong but is a president even allowed just unilaterally decide to revoke a law ?

No, but they can direct the federal government to deprioritize enforcement.

Re: TikTok goes dark in the US

#396

Good I hope this opens the way for the ban of american apps all over the world.

Sale or ban of all US companies in every country. Imagine u could own the branding, technology, IP, revenue and profits of US companies. Country can use that to massive benefit their citizens, end poverty, hunger, bring free healthcare and education, balance currency and trade, increase tax revenues. All US companies can be Indian, Germany, France, UK, Brazil, all nations in Africa, Middle east companies.

Re: TikTok goes dark in the US

#397

A point I think most people don’t understand is that the government interest in TikTok has little to do with exploiting user data per se, a lot of other companies do that. The issue is that TikTok is somewhat unique in being aggressively weaponized in currently very active “grey zone” conflicts. This has been an open secret in national security circles but the average person on the street has no idea what a grey zone…

These arguments become so vague to me that it just feels like an excuse for governments to do whatever they want.

Calling it "Grey zone conflict" feels like the "Deep state" shenanigans... It's primarily marketing to achieve your goal.

We've seen the invasion of Iraq; that was all based on lies. We got ISIS as a result... "National security circles" look for evidence so it fits their narrative. Like watching FoxNews. It's a very narrowminded funnel of carefully picked pieces of evidence. They are not truth seekers that aim to provide a holistic view of the situation. No, they are scared aged men who love to control the narrative and see danger in everything in the hope to get more funding for their next projects.

Btw; banning TikTok is a good thing, but for other reasons entirely.

Re: TikTok goes dark in the US

#398

The app was shutdown a couple of hours ago in the US and this was the message all TikTok users saw when they opened the app.[1] The same guy who pushed for a ban massively last year, is going to save the app despite the security concerns he and most of our government said they had. If only we knew what happened in that classified briefing that made them vote together across party lines. [1] https://a57.foxnews.com/st…

This is bizarre.. Maybe I'm wrong but is a president even allowed just unilaterally decide to revoke a law ? Maybe the US should just create some privacy protections instead ?

No, he can't. Congress would have to revoke it. But it has bipartison support. So its just more of the same charade BS that he rants on about. Its all nonsense from him. It will be worse this time around bc he is not all there (even moreso than 2016). The next 4 yrs are going to be quite comical. He can't even control his bowels and he has to wear diapers to stop leaking.

Re: TikTok goes dark in the US

#399

This morning I felt the urge to download TikTok for the first time. I did, but I didn't bother creating an account. There is a passage in the book Life of Pi, where Pi's family is gathered and ready to leave India for Canada. And his mother does something out of the ordinary: > The day before our departure she pointed at a cigarette wallah and earnestly asked, "Should we get a pack or two?" > Father replied, "They ha…

If you're on iPhone that might make sense but on Android there is no need, lots of ways to get access to it after you moved to Canada, if you ever want to pick up smoking.

Re: TikTok goes dark in the US

#400
post #257

Unreal. Land of Freedom bans Social Media app that runs on US servers, on its own terms, with censorship teams staffed by dozens of ex-US State officials[1]. Amazing that Congress will see bipartisan action on this issue before any of the other much more important issues. It absolutely destroys criticisms of China banning Facebook, etc. 1. https://www.mintpressnews.com/tiktok-chinese-trojan-horse-ru...

China also bans TikTok. That should tell you everything you need to know about whether they believe it is a positive influence.
Post reply on HN