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U.S. opens a national security review of TikTok’s acquisition of Musical.ly

reuters.com

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Re: U.S. opens a national security review of TikTok’s acquisition of Musical.ly

#61

Post by spectramax »

bamboozled wrote: post #54
nknealk wrote: post #19

I highly recommend folks listen to recent episodes of Ben Thompson’s exponent podcast where he discusses TikTok and its influence in the USA. He makes the point that US consumers become subject to Chinese censorship policies when using the platform while China outright bans or heavily restricts American companies from operating (eg google search, Facebook).

What’s the point here though? America et al also don’t like certain things being published on social media and try stop it from existing on those platforms too.

I can post on Facebook that I disagree with president Trump and he is a liar, try doing the same in China. (Please don't take my comment as a suggestion about President Trump, just trying to make a point).

Re: U.S. opens a national security review of TikTok’s acquisition of Musical.ly

#62

Post by nemothekid »

CydeWeys wrote: post #23

I'll never understand why (a) Vine was shut down, and (b) So many Americans are eager to rush out and use a Chinese social network. I suspect (b) can be explained primarily through ignorance.

Musical.ly, which TikTok parent company acquired for 1B, was far more American (the company was based in Shanghai, but they had more success in the US and rebranded accordingly).

I myself had no idea they were Chinese, despite working in the space. I wouldn’t expect any average teen to know they are Chinese either

Re: U.S. opens a national security review of TikTok’s acquisition of Musical.ly

#63

Post by sambull »

nostromo wrote: post #30

I would support a wholesale ban on Chinese acquisitions of American companies until American companies are allowed to acquire Chinese companies (or otherwise operate in China). These ridiculous double standards from China are not free trade, and we should stop pretending it is.

What about French companies buying strategically important companies in the US? That then gets bought by a Chinese company at a later date? Is it a French company still?

Re: U.S. opens a national security review of TikTok’s acquisition of Musical.ly

#64

Post by thefounder »

situational87 wrote: post #2

After the US claimed that Huawei was a national security threat only to drop this claim completely when China started cooperating on trade talks I honestly don't know what to believe anymore.

The point is that any foreign company becomes a national security threat if it's big enough and it threats the domestic player. It's really all about power(economic and technological).

Re: U.S. opens a national security review of TikTok’s acquisition of Musical.ly

#65

Post by RIMR »

president wrote: post #41
nostromo wrote: post #30

I would support a wholesale ban on Chinese acquisitions of American companies until American companies are allowed to acquire Chinese companies (or otherwise operate in China). These ridiculous double standards from China are not free trade, and we should stop pretending it is.

Most people probably realize it. What we need is for the American CEOs, financial elite, members of government that have investments in China to invest in their own country rather than in a lop-sided trade economy that doesn't allow free flow of money back to the US.

I would much rather see the financial elite in America expropriated so that corporate leaders are less likely to buckle to China for short-term profit.

Re: U.S. opens a national security review of TikTok’s acquisition of Musical.ly

#66

Post by kube-system »

RedComet wrote: post #31

US companies (Twitter, Facebook, Google) censor people all the time.

This is about more than simply censorship, the broader concern is social manipulation at the hand of foreign governments.

And likewise, those US companies have also drawn similar regulatory attention.

Re: U.S. opens a national security review of TikTok’s acquisition of Musical.ly

#67

Post by RIMR »

influx wrote: post #45
president wrote: post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Most people probably realize it. What we need is for the American CEOs, financial elite, members of government that have investments in China to invest in their own country rather than in a lop-sided trade economy that doesn't allow free flow of money back to the US.

This is an area where both the right and left can find agreement.

That's hilarious! You think the American right would be pro-regulation...

Re: U.S. opens a national security review of TikTok’s acquisition of Musical.ly

#68

Post by spectramax »

drgoodvibe wrote: post #37

China now flexing its soft power...

You can't flex "soft power" when all you have is monetary grip of the situation (investments).

Where is tactful diplomacy, cooperation and building mutual rapport when dealing with China?

Re: U.S. opens a national security review of TikTok’s acquisition of Musical.ly

#69

Post by gok »

CydeWeys wrote: post #23

I'll never understand why (a) Vine was shut down, and (b) So many Americans are eager to rush out and use a Chinese social network. I suspect (b) can be explained primarily through ignorance.

(A) Vine was horribly mismanaged by Twitter. No marketing, no interesting new features, needless attempts to integrate it into Twitter.

(B) How would the average consumer know it's Chinese? They totally rebranded it from their mainland product and in fact the social network itself is totally isolated, so you can't even find Chinese people on it.

Re: U.S. opens a national security review of TikTok’s acquisition of Musical.ly

#70

Post by Consultant32452 »

AWildC182 wrote: post #13

Does anyone have any insight into their revenue model? How are they succeeding where Vine failed or are they still just riding investor capital?

Profitability is not required if you are an intelligence asset for the state. In this case, the state is China. Maybe it's legitimately profitable, maybe the Chinese govt is purchasing ads with other companies it owns, maybe the books are entirely cooked. It's hard to tell in China.
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