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As TikTok grows, so does suspicion

economist.com

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Re: As TikTok grows, so does suspicion

#521

Post by dirtyid »

throwawaymaths wrote: post #501
dirtyid wrote: post #484

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>insideous Which is fairly tame in terms of securing geopolitical influence and enables more win-win arrangments. Especially with respect to Laos - a landlocked country with (to be blunt) zero long term development prospects. Laos per capital GDP growth has been on pace with booming Vietnam that has access to outsource manufacturing and maritime trade. Laos should be worse off than Cambodia that has 60% of current La…

While we're cherry picking examples, there's Sri Lanka, port of gwadar.

Cherry picking what? The op was about Laos, I talked about Laos. Debt trap meme / lie has been debunked by many academics, it's a myth. PRC refinances / renegotiate. It would be really nice for PRC security posture if they actually siezed these ports to build naval bases to gain foothold in indopac, but so far overriding geopolitical interest has been commercial / economic and for a intiative as large as BROR, some of them do poorly. It's the price of exporting massive infra projects around the world to find new markets for domestic overcapacity.

Re: As TikTok grows, so does suspicion

#522

Post by oittaa »

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"?

[flagged]

Re: As TikTok grows, so does suspicion

#523

Post by LunaSea »

wangii wrote: post #482
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…

when was the last time China invaded another country and killed hundreds of thousands? I really not interested in arguing good vs. evil, China VS US, but your blindness is just amazing!

Hong Kong, Tibet, maybe Taiwan next?

Re: As TikTok grows, so does suspicion

#524

Post by oittaa »

fabianhjr wrote: post #262
bitlax wrote: post #257

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah Russia has been totally hands off in Latin America. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Che_Guevara#/media/File:CheinM...

Russian Federation != Union of Soviet Socialist Republics More so: Russian Federation != Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic

Sure, comrade.

Re: As TikTok grows, so does suspicion

#525

Post by epups »

Avamander wrote: post #86
tonymet wrote: post #5

they mention data harvesting and influencing public relations as risks, and both are worrisome . another more subtle but pernicious concern is the trivialization of entertainment (which started from a low bar ) tiktok is addictive and much of the content is low bar , slapstick and sexually suggestive thirst traps . there may be a good share of high quality content , but we all know time spent is on garbage. our grand…

Quoted post unavailable.

> More likely you are seeing that content because something indicates to the algorithm that you like such content. Very bluntly, you are most likely telling on yourself right now.

This is true for literally every giant app/site. Is it "telling" that everyone thinks Youtube is full of conspiracy theory videos? Or that Twitter is a cesspool of outrageous political commentary? Of course you can shield yourself from it somewhat, and maybe the biggest accounts are not cesspools at all (Cristiano Ronaldo or whatever). The point remains that the content is low-level and the algorithm encourages engagement by the lowest common denominator.

Re: As TikTok grows, so does suspicion

#526

Post by echaozh »

jes wrote: post #330
phyrex wrote: post #261

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How are they “The Enemy”? Are they coming and killing Americans or is it just generic xenophobia?

I found this[1] report (PDF) from the DEA: "Currently, China remains the primary source of fentanyl and fentanyl-related substances trafficked through international mail and express consignment operations environment, as well as the main source for all fentanyl-related substances trafficked into the United States. Seizures of fentanyl sourced from China average less than one kilogram in weight, and often test above 9…

Currently in 2020. Later the primary source becomes India. China actually did put an end to the shipping.

Re: As TikTok grows, so does suspicion

#527

Post by barrysteve »

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.

It's so weird Windows never gets mentioned in the privacy discussion. Competing over what people do on the Web and phone apps them might have more economic impact than what MS collects, but MS has a more ingrained view of someone's electronic life via the OS. Deleting TikTok and installing an Adblocker is an order of magnitude easier than switching to Linux or Mac.

Re: As TikTok grows, so does suspicion

#528

Post by randomsearch »

There’s a lot of political chat on this thread, and usually geopolitical discussions seem to bifurcate into two falsehoods amongst nerds.

The first group seem to be missing the terrible things the US has done to the world. It has had unrivalled military and economic dominance for the best part of a century and it has abused that power. Whether that’s invading countries, organising coups, killing foreign citizens in large numbers via CIA operations, etc etc, America has shown little restraint. I think often folks are not aware of this, because (a) a lot of America’s imperialism doesn’t get much news coverage in the west and (b) the victim countries are often not very interesting or significant to that audience. Only the really obvious events like Iraq get flagged.

And on the other side, there is this tendency to demonise America and defend other countries in order to criticise America. So, ignoring the realities of what China and Russia have done to other countries and their own people. I mean, just look at the eastern block communist countries, or what is going on in Ukraine now, to see how Russia operates. I’m less knowledgeable about China but internally the government has tried to unite the country by eliminating all types of diversity in very disturbing Orwellian ways. Externally it hasn’t found its military feet quite yet, but we can see the use of soft power to cripple countries in a way not dissimilar to western imperialism.

I think what does bother me is that either viewpoint is very black and white, very simplified, and ignores the positive things that those countries do achieve. The truth is the world is complex, it’s a mixed bag, and “America is great” or “America is pure evil” are viewpoints that lack any sense of nuance. I mean, America is not one president or one set of staff or one institution. Its government is multifaceted and can be in public disagreement with itself.

I think the big issue with America is the influence of corporate power, the way capital interacts with democracy, that’s its biggest sin when it comes to geopolitics, that’s where to focus your anger and inquiry.

Re: As TikTok grows, so does suspicion

#529

Post by lenkite »

arroz wrote: post #502
lenkite wrote: post #451

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"undo the rules based order that has someone kept the world somewhat sane since WWII." Only an American/NATO nation citizen can believe this utter nonsense. The only rules being followed were the ones the USA laid out with its military fist, crushing of the opposition and sponsored coups - all in their favour. Now that they finally have a serious competitor, the US is getting antsy. I am frankly speaking utterly glad…

Yeah great, a xenophobic, homophobic dictatorship will keep the USA in check! First thing in agenda: invade Taiwan and cause a chip shortage in the world that will cause the greatest economic crisis you will ever see!

The USA is creating a significant oil and energy crisis today by sanctioning the big 3 oil producing nations: Iran, Venezuela and Russia, leading to economic collapse and famine in several nations. But its all cool and great because the US are the "good" guys. Who cares if a few million citizens of the third world die ? They should know their place after all - being crushed under the American boot.

More people are dying in Yemen every-day thanks to US embargoes and US weapons than in Ukraine, but not a whiff about it in Western news. No photos of Yemeni mothers holding dead children. No photos of limbs being blasted off by US supplied bombs. Americans who support their military and state are ignorant, sanctimonious hypocrites of the highest order.

Re: As TikTok grows, so does suspicion

#530

Post by sph »

throwawaymaths wrote: post #498
_tik_ wrote: post #488

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Iraq Invasion is the USA today

No? We finally had a president that hasn't started a new war (trump) and we are on track to having a president that hasn't started a new war and has withdrawn troops from one war. Things are changing.

A little early to state "things are changing." because the US hasn't invaded anyone in half a decade.
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