Banning TikTok - Really?

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#2525880 20-Jul-2020 08:52

elpenguino:

Probably less the platform and more the threatening, to autocracy, ideas it contains. We don't want to pollute the minds of our innocent citizens with crazy ideas like democracy and freedom of speech.

I'm all for freedom of speech... but do social media platforms *really* enable freedom of speech? Or are they just an echo chamber for hate speech, trolling, bullying, social engineering and replacement of proper balanced, well researched journalism, etc, etc

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elpenguino

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#2525898 20-Jul-2020 09:10

sidefx:

I'm all for freedom of speech... but do social media platforms *really* enable freedom of speech? Or are they just an echo chamber for hate speech, trolling, bullying, social engineering and replacement of proper balanced, well researched journalism, etc, etc

For the Chinese government, I think the point is that you can go on social media and say all those things as well as 'why can't I vote?" or "is our country's leader a good guy?"

Item

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#2525902 20-Jul-2020 09:19

sidefx:

do social media platforms *really* enable freedom of speech? Or are they just an echo chamber for hate speech, trolling, bullying, social engineering and replacement of proper balanced, well researched journalism, etc, etc

wellygary

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#2534273 4-Aug-2020 09:50

Looks like we are going to get rolled up in the purchase too....

"Microsoft and TikTok parent ByteDance gave the US government a notice of intent to explore a preliminary proposal for Microsoft to purchase the TikTok service in the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand."

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/business/422684/microsoft-to-explore-buying-tiktok-s-new-zealand-operations

1101

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#2534952 5-Aug-2020 09:47

I might be wrong, but we are talking about an app for watching 30secound video clips. Wait 2 years and it may just die off anyway (Vines)
Hardly a huge security risk ?
Paranoid about security, dont use Android . Isnt that the answer .

the media dont seem to question how stupid this seems . Obviously just political tit for tat .

antonknee

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#2534957 5-Aug-2020 10:00

Very clearly political tit for tat (not that you would expect better from the Trump administration).

TikTok's owner Bytedance has distanced itself from the CCP and vice versa. Previously the CCP has come out in support of Chinese companies when they are talked about negatively - not so for TikTok. Storm in a teacup?

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wellygary

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#2534962 5-Aug-2020 10:05

antonknee:

Previously the CCP has come out in support of Chinese companies when they are talked about negatively - not so for TikTok. Storm in a teacup?

China seems pretty steamed

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/aug/04/tiktok-china-hits-out-at-us-smash-and-grab-as-tech-row-deepens

"An editorial in the official state paper, China Daily, said China would not accept the “theft” of one of its technology companies, “and it has plenty of ways to respond if the administration carries out its planned smash and grab”.

"On Monday, a spokesman for China’s ministry of foreign affairs said China firmly opposed any US action against Chinese software companies over national security concerns. “The US generalises the concept of national security and, without any evidence, presumptions of guilt and threats against relevant companies,” said Wang Wenbin.

“This violates the principles of market economy and exposes the hypocrisy and typical double standards of the US in maintaining fairness and freedom. It also violates the World Trade Organisation’s principles of openness, transparency and non-discrimination.”

"China’s ambassador to the UK, Liu Xiaoming, also accused the US of hypocrisy. “It is the US that has politicised economic issues and abused the concept of national security to pursue discriminatory and exclusive policies,” he said."

Oblivian

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#2534964 5-Aug-2020 10:08

There's also quite a focus on apps from China since exposure of Shenzen HAWK.

If you hadn't heard that before, they are behind heaps of separate 'app developer' companies that use dodgy farms (probably the leftover like farming setups) to self market and rank their apps straight to the top searches and so on. While getting shady permissions everyone never checks..

Rather concerning when its VPN apps and the likes.

https://nakedsecurity.sophos.com/2020/02/06/android-pulls-24-dangerous-malware-filled-apps-from-play-store/

I believe there is still a similar set fooling people who don't realise there is usually a flashlight on the draw down bar too.

antonknee

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#2534966 5-Aug-2020 10:12

wellygary:

antonknee:

Previously the CCP has come out in support of Chinese companies when they are talked about negatively - not so for TikTok. Storm in a teacup?

China seems pretty steamed

Yeah absolutely, I should have made that comment a lot clearer. Prior to Trump's announcement he would ban TikTok, the Chinese government hadn't had a lot to say about it (unlike some of the other Chinese companies that operate globally). All bets are now off though.

Do we think the Microsoft acquisition will pan out?

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arcon

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#2534975 5-Aug-2020 10:24

ezbee:

True Ban is the wrong answer, its just revenge.

There are generic problems across all social media platforms.

Better user controls and defaults for all Apps and service providers, no matter if they be Facebook, Youtube, or Tiktok.
Google / Apple also need to review permission controls to give more capability to users with appropriate defaults to control.
More controls on apps sharing data , and payment limits within apps , especially where children and intangible products are involved.

A log of what data is being sent in the background by what apps would be great so we had visibility.

This ban if enacted would just ignore what really needs to be looked at across the board for all.

You can't implement any form of meaningful transparency on a Chinese app. Of course it was a revenge ban but you're not seeing the whole picture if you think Tiktok isn't far more dangerous than other social media platforms. Gradual control of emerging generations' awareness and thought process is how the CCP has lasted as long as it has.

sbiddle

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#2535017 5-Aug-2020 11:30

There is a lot of irony in the US laying blame on China for seemingly building an app that potentially has the capability to harvests personal data incl contacts from phones yet you can argue it's weaknesses in the US developed Android OS that allow contacts to be shared to devices. Thousands of apps in the app store do this, and many people just grant access to apps without even caring.

Dingbatt

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#2535052 5-Aug-2020 12:46

China calling America out on this is a bit like the pot calling the kettle ‘a vessel of colour’.

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gzt

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#2535503 5-Aug-2020 23:00

1101:Paranoid about security, dont use Android . Isnt that the answer .

and iPhone..

and telephones in general..

wellygary

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#2536286 7-Aug-2020 14:50

OK so the executive order has been signed meaning it will be illegal in 45 days for any US citizen or Company to engage in any "transaction" with Tiktok...

https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/executive-order-addressing-threat-posed-tiktok/

BUT: and here is the kicker, he also signed one for Wechat, which could cause a real headache for Chinese ex-pat communities in the US...

https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/executive-order-addressing-threat-posed-wechat/

ResponseMediaNZ

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#2536294 7-Aug-2020 15:08

wellygary:

OK so the executive order has been signed meaning it will be illegal in 45 days for any US citizen or Company to engage in any "transaction" with Tiktok...

https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/executive-order-addressing-threat-posed-tiktok/

BUT: and here is the kicker, he also signed one for Wechat, which could cause a real headache for Chinese ex-pat communities in the US...

https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/executive-order-addressing-threat-posed-wechat/

That's a massive kicker! Considering the holding company for WeChat has 40% stake in Epic Games (Fortnite), 80% ownership in the New Zealand company Grinding Gear Games, and The company that makes Call of Duty Mobile.

and Ironically "During the COVID-19 pandemic, Tencent helped source 1.2 million protective masks for American medical staff combating the virus. Addressing the issue, Martin Lau said, "Global cooperation is about the well-being and future of mankind. As the world comes together to fight against novel coronavirus, Tencent believes that international cooperation and teamwork are more essential than ever before."

grab some popcorn and watch the sparks fly with this

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