LargeWu 4 days ago

It's not about getting our data. The TikTok algorithm is already being used to sow discord by showing stuff the PRC wants impressionable Americans to see. This ability of an adversarial foreign nation to surgically push individualized propaganda to consumers in another country is pretty unparalleled in human history. TikTok is the ultimate propaganda machine.

  • skulk 4 days ago

    At this point, I trust Xi approximately as much as I do Zuck and Musk with my economic future.

    • YurgenJurgensen 4 days ago

      ‘There are three fires’ is not an argument against putting out any one of them.

  • spencerflem 4 days ago

    TikTok is basically the same as Facebook/Instagram/Y.T.Shorts but with a different owner

    • gpm 4 days ago

      Well... yes... it's the owner the government is concerned about.

      The law requires that ownership of TikTok be changed before it continues operating in the US, not that TikTok stop operating.

      • spencerflem 4 days ago

        Right, I guess I'm agreeing with you that social media is an effective propaganda machine (they're ad companies and what is an ad but propaganda to buy a product) and the US Govt wants one where they set the tone.

        I was disagreeing with GP that seemed to act like TikTok was uniquely a propaganda engine

gpm 4 days ago

They do just buy it. The opinion mentions that. It turns out they want even more data and also do things like hacking to steal it.

> The PRC’s methods for collecting data include using “its relationships with Chinese companies,” making “strategic investments in foreign companies,” and “purchasing large data sets.” For example [...]

In fact it treats the Chinese investment into TikTok as basically a form of "just buying it" with regards to the information gathering justification for banning it.