US threatens TikTok ban if it is not sold - report [BBC News]

Booshka · Mar 15, 2023

https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-64973156

The video-sharing app, owned by Chinese company ByteDance, is accused of posing a national security risk through data gathered from millions of users.

A request for a change in ownership, first reported in the Wall Street Journal (WSJ), was confirmed to BBC News by TikTok.

The company said a forced sale would not change its data flows or access.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-th...-founder-doesnt-sell-ownership-stake-36d7295c

According to the WSJ, US President Joe Biden's administration wants ByteDance to divest itself of TikTok to create a clear break from China.

The newspaper said the Committee on Foreign Investments in the United States (CFIUS), which oversees national security risks, unanimously recommended ByteDance divest from TikTok. A spokesperson for TikTok said it did not dispute the WSJ's reporting and confirmed it had been contacted by CFIUS.

"If protecting national security is the objective, divestment doesn't solve the problem: a change in ownership would not impose any new restrictions on data flows or access." the spokesperson said.

"The best way to address concerns about national security is with the transparent, U.S.-based protection of U.S. user data and systems".

A ban was first threatened under then-President Donald Trump in 2020. However, Mr Biden's administration has also taken a dim view of the social network.
TikTok hoovers up huge amounts of data on its users, similar to Instagram and Twitter. It can take biometric data from users and has access to location data. The fear is the information could be passed to the Chinese government.

The development comes a week after new legislation was announced that would expand the president's authority to ban TikTok nationwide was unveiled in the senate. The Restrict Act would allow the US Commerce Department to declare foreign-linked companies national security risks.

TikTok is banned on government phones in the US, Canada and the EU.

lock if old, new news to me, and quite a doozy.

RedHeat · Mar 15, 2023

More knowledgeable people about this will just this is just saber rattling from Biden, I dunno. Seems like a little than just empty threats this time.

Buckle · Mar 15, 2023

The time has come.

Begin the dark necromantic rituals to raise Vine from its grave.

Bessy67 · Mar 15, 2023

As long as the CCP holds "golden shares" of these companies it's probably not a bad idea to be cautious of what the CCP might ask/force these companies to do.

Booshka · Mar 15, 2023

Buckle said:
The time has come.

Begin the dark necromantic rituals to raise Vine from its grave.

If those same rituals destroy Facebook to raise MySpace from the dead then I will accept it.

RobotHaus · Mar 15, 2023

If only we had laws that forced developers to have user protection compliancy in place in order for their software to be published here.

Rosebud · Mar 15, 2023

RobotHaus said:
If only we had laws that forced developers to have user protection compliancy in place in order for their software to be published here.

But Zuck would be unhappy :(

megamanofnumbers · Mar 15, 2023

Good ol' US government not realizing that they pose as much of a threat to the safety of their citizens as their enemies do.

Shopolic · Mar 15, 2023

What's the public opinion about this in US? Do Americans think that TikTok is really dangerous or they think US government is angry about popularity of a non-American service and wants to have it in their hands?

HylianSeven · Mar 15, 2023

Buckle said:
The time has come.

Begin the dark necromantic rituals to raise Vine from its grave.

Before Elon bought Twitter I would have been all for reviving Vine but now I have a feeling it would be worse than it ever could be if it were revived.

Deleted member 93062 · Mar 16, 2023

CFIUS doing it means this is the real deal.

Grindr has been sold by its Chinese owner after the US expressed security concerns

The owner had a June 2020 deadline to sell Grindr.

www.theverge.com

Dreams-Visions · Mar 16, 2023

megamanofnumbers said:
Good ol' US government not realizing that they pose as much of a threat to the safety of their citizens as their enemies do.

That's a bit embryonic don't you think?

Booshka · Mar 16, 2023

megamanofnumbers said:
Good ol' US government not realizing that they pose as much of a threat to the safety of their citizens as their enemies do.

I'm sure they realize it and that's partly responsible for this threat. They want US Social Media users to be harvested and exploited by US companies, not foreign ones considered as rivals.

Shopolic said:
What's the public opinion about this in US? Do Americans think that TikTok is really dangerous or they think US government is angry about popularity of a non-American service and wants to have it in their hands?

I imagine that the mostly young, diverse and female users of TikTok will have some reservations towards this policy.

Bessy67 · Mar 16, 2023

Shopolic said:
What's the public opinion about this in US? Do Americans think that TikTok is really dangerous or they think US government is angry about popularity of a non-American service and wants to have it in their hands?

I'm by no means an expert, but this kinda explains some concerns

China moves to take ‘golden shares’ in Alibaba and Tencent units

Beijing changes tack in its efforts to secure a firmer grip on the country’s tech giants

www.ft.com

Edit: Weird, I could read the Financial Times article before I linked it. Didn't realize it was paywalled...

EXCLUSIVE Fretting about data security, China's government expands its use of 'golden shares'

The Chinese government has been expanding its practice of taking minority stakes in private companies beyond those specialising in online news and content to firms possessing large amounts of key data, two people with knowledge of the matter said.

www.reuters.com

megamanofnumbers · Mar 16, 2023

Dreams-Visions said:
That's a bit embryonic don't you think?

I'm terrified at what I think you're trying to imply here.

Anya7890 · Mar 16, 2023

I think TikTok is a crime against humanity based on how dumb it makes a huge part of the populace, So I'm all for it.

Busaiku · Mar 16, 2023

Ya, US wants a monopoly on spying on its citizens.

Deleted member 93062 · Mar 16, 2023

Two siding this is wild.

Emwitus · Mar 16, 2023

I don't know if I'd even trust selling this off and expecting data flow to be secure even with a us owner.

unknown_nut · Mar 16, 2023

Anya7890 said:
I think TikTok is a crime against humanity based on how dumb it makes a huge part of the populace, So I'm all for it.

Can we add in Social Media as a whole?

Booshka · Mar 16, 2023

unknown_nut said:
Can we add in Social Media as a whole?

30 years ago it was video games

CoinStarDX · Mar 16, 2023

Anya7890 said:
I think TikTok is a crime against humanity based on how dumb it makes a huge part of the populace, So I'm all for it.

This is such an ignorant take. There are so many political movements happening on TikTok. Gen Z is discovering their political stances on the app, and becoming invested in politics in a way that millennials were in the early 2000s.

I really fear that this will make them divorce themselves from the entire political process.

But I imagine I'm pissing in the wind and you just think TikTok is nothing but teens dancing and lio syncing.

megamanofnumbers · Mar 16, 2023

Booshka said:
30 years ago it was video games

Don't you mean 2 years ago? EYYYOOOOO

construct · Mar 16, 2023

i'd like to see this for all companies regardless of their home country. specifically US companies like facebook and google

Booshka · Mar 16, 2023

megamanofnumbers said:
Don't you mean 2 years ago? EYYYOOOOO

"Culture and generational agitation are on a permanent cycle apparently."

-Gramsci 2087

Deleted member 8257 · Mar 16, 2023

Gangster behavior and extortion tactics. Wonder if there's anyone who will defend US of A over this.

Yoga Flame · Mar 16, 2023

CoinStarDX said:
This is such an ignorant take. There are so many political movements happening on TikTok. Gen Z is discovering their political stances on the app, and becoming invested in politics in a way that millennials were in the early 2000s.

I really fear that this will make them divorce themselves from the entire political process.

But I imagine I'm pissing in the wind and you just think TikTok is nothing but teens dancing and lio syncing.

There are plenty of options out there to consume and dissect ideas. I think your only highlighting the the problem, potential manipulation of political discourse from CCP. Taiwan have banned it for that reason, and there's growing concerns here. Additionally, being so dependent where you protest by becoming politically inactive doesn't reflect well on anyone. That goes for any app.

TheMadTitan · Mar 16, 2023

Shopolic said:
What's the public opinion about this in US? Do Americans think that TikTok is really dangerous or they think US government is angry about popularity of a non-American service and wants to have it in their hands?

Every take I've seen by (by people actively using the app) has been centered around fear mongering from entrenched parties, doubly so after it came out that Facebook used a GOP lobbying firm to run a scare campaign in Congress.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2022/03/30/facebook-tiktok-targeted-victory/

Facebook funded anti-TikTok campaign through GOP firm

Targeted Victory planted op-eds in regional news outlets.

www.theverge.com

Meta can’t buy TikTok, so it hired GOP operatives to run a smear campaign

Consultants placed op-eds, pushed local news to run stories maligning TikTok.

arstechnica.com

Muse98 · Mar 16, 2023

I get why government employees are forbidden to use ir and why it can't be used on Government devices but..what's the big deal about Joe blow from Ohio using it?

lorddarkflare · Mar 16, 2023

Muse98 said:
I get why government employees are forbidden to use ir and why it can't be used on Government devices but..what's the big deal about Joe blow from Ohio using it?

Theoretically gives the chinese government data on US citizens.

Which is HILLARIOUS because they can just buy that data from other companies.

I have always argued that American social media companies and their ability to mismanage and exploit my data are way more problematic than China.

Dalek · Mar 16, 2023

Good. Good.

walkinfast · Mar 16, 2023

TheMadTitan said:
Every take I've seen by (by people actively using the app) has been centered around fear mongering from entrenched parties, doubly so after it came out that Facebook used a GOP lobbying firm to run a scare campaign in Congress.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2022/03/30/facebook-tiktok-targeted-victory/

Facebook funded anti-TikTok campaign through GOP firm

Targeted Victory planted op-eds in regional news outlets.

www.theverge.com

Meta can’t buy TikTok, so it hired GOP operatives to run a smear campaign

Consultants placed op-eds, pushed local news to run stories maligning TikTok.

arstechnica.com

Zuck seems to think if the US bans TikTok, everyone will just run back to Facebook.....which isn't going to happen.

Deleted member 10560 · Mar 16, 2023

Still on the fence as I don't feel like I know all the necessary data. I get data collection concerns but focusing entirely on a company foreign to the US and allowing US companies to have at us seems quite Xenophobic. Social media needs some kind of reform, especially when dealing with children, but I have no idea what that should look like that wouldn't start a slippery slope of the Internet becoming entirely regulated by the US against it's own citizens.

antispin · Mar 16, 2023

Yeah, sell it to Meta.

BrickArts295 · Mar 16, 2023

Wasn't Microsoft in the running for a share buy a few years ago?
Also sell it to Meta please >:)

DryCreek · Mar 16, 2023

SpaghettiMan · Mar 16, 2023

Bessy67 said:
As long as the CCP holds "golden shares" of these companies it's probably not a bad idea to be cautious of what the CCP might ask/force these companies to do.

You can say the same of Facebook, Instagram and all American owned sites.

Booshka · Mar 16, 2023

Hodgy said:
If the us want to deal with data protection then by all means do. But singling out China just feels like sabre ratting or being mad that it's challenging Facebook / twitter / YouTube's monopoly on our data.

I think this is the angle, data protection is an absolute smokescreen. It's about market share and who controls the data. The US has no problem if Google, Microsoft, or Meta are doing the same with your data.

TikTok have created a behemoth within the social media space and it's outside of US control, so here we are.

Yahsper · Mar 16, 2023

Resetera loves to deflect using whataboutism when it comes to precious TikTok.

China is becoming an increasingly hostile state. Tiktok vacuums up a whooole lot of data and send it without oversight to the Chinese government. People are asking what the problem is with regular Joe Schmoe? Well, 16 year old Angela won't stay 16 years old forever. Gen Z will grow up and take their positions in government, companies, etc.

CoinStarDX said:
This is such an ignorant take. There are so many political movements happening on TikTok. Gen Z is discovering their political stances on the app, and becoming invested in politics in a way that millennials were in the early 2000s.

I really fear that this will make them divorce themselves from the entire political process.

But I imagine I'm pissing in the wind and you just think TikTok is nothing but teens dancing and lio syncing.

The complete *woosh* in this post is worrying. The influence of tiktok is huge, the algorithm is untransparant and ByteDance is directly beholden to the Chinese government. China literally has the power to influence social movements right now across the world. We literally have Cambridge Analytica to thank for 4 years of Trump and now we're going to give an exponential of that power to China?

Coyote Starrk · Mar 16, 2023

Fully support this. Tik Tok on it's own is annoying and a bit of a menace as it is but when coupled with the fact that it is a real security risk it's just got to go.

And yes I'm sure that China could possibly respond by banning a US service such as Facebook or Twitter but in reality that's just kind of a bonus for everyone in that country.

Ceerious · Mar 16, 2023

Coyote Starrk said:
And yes I'm sure that China could possibly respond by banning a US service such as Facebook or Twitter but in reality that's just kind of a bonus for everyone in that country.

China banned those years ago. There are currently no major social apps run by international corpo available in China. Apple survived by deferring iCloud management to the Chinese government. China even banned Github at one point, only to reverse their decision later because they realized it was self-chokehold in scientific research.

Malverde · Mar 16, 2023

Yahsper said:
Resetera loves to deflect using whataboutism when it comes to precious TikTok.

China is becoming an increasingly hostile state. Tiktok vacuums up a whooole lot of data and send it without oversight to the Chinese government. People are asking what the problem is with regular Joe Schmoe? Well, 16 year old Angela won't stay 16 years old forever. Gen Z will grow up and take their positions in government, companies, etc.

The complete *woosh* in this post is worrying. The influence of tiktok is huge, the algorithm is untransparant and ByteDance is directly beholden to the Chinese government. China literally has the power to influence social movements right now across the world. We literally have Cambridge Analytica to thank for 4 years of Trump and now we're going to give an exponential of that power to China?

Damn you don't just eat propaganda, you try to feed it to others too. If it was about data privacy then make a law about data privacy.

Flame Lord · Mar 16, 2023

Coyote Starrk said:
Fully support this. Tik Tok on it's own is annoying and a bit of a menace as it is but when coupled with the fact that it is a real security risk it's just got to go.

And yes I'm sure that China could possibly respond by banning a US service such as Facebook or Twitter but in reality that's just kind of a bonus for everyone in that country.

China's been banning shit for years, the US seems to be less likely than most to ban foreign sites and apps.

entremet · Mar 16, 2023

Tiktok is fun. I've learned a lot in it. It has some cool niches.

But China bans our apps. Turnabout is fair play. So I honestly don't care. Another app will take its place. Tale as old as time.

Gen Z panicking about is funny. These companies come and go as history has shown. It was fun tho.

Also Reels and Shorts ain't it. Google and Meta are wild if they thing those will replace TT. IG is a mess.

Cipherr · Mar 16, 2023

Coyote Starrk said:
And yes I'm sure that China could possibly respond by banning a US service such as Facebook or Twitter but in reality that's just kind of a bonus for everyone in that country.

Well...

Ceerious said:
China banned those years ago. There are currently no major social apps run by international corpo available in China. Apple survived by deferring iCloud management to the Chinese government. China even banned Github at one point, only to reverse their decision later because they realized it was self-chokehold in scientific research.

Yeah I came to post that I read something like this. They aint playing. Social media is powerful as fuck, and they know it.

In any case, discussions about Tiktok in this community remind me a LOT of discussions about facebook in this very same community yeaaaars ago. I remember when posting that we didn't use Facebook for planning get togethers with friends got me some really heated/angry accusations and name calling from prominent posters on this forum. Something so incredibly benign, but back then everyone was all over FB and were EXTREMELY defensive about anything related to it.

Dr. Mario · Mar 16, 2023

All the major social media are from the US and literally the first one that's popular and that isn't, the US government leans in to make it US based. So transparent. I weep for BeReal.

nelsonroyale · Mar 16, 2023

US and Chinese approaches to regulating social media converging?

Yahsper · Mar 16, 2023

Malverde said:
Damn you don't just eat propaganda, you try to feed it to others too. If it was about data privacy then make a law about data privacy.

I'm not American, I already have a law for data privacy. Which Tiktok is breaking.

Shopolic · Mar 16, 2023

Booshka said:
I'm sure they realize it and that's partly responsible for this threat. They want US Social Media users to be harvested and exploited by US companies, not foreign ones considered as rivals.

I imagine that the mostly young, diverse and female users of TikTok will have some reservations towards this policy.

Bessy67 said:
I'm by no means an expert, but this kinda explains some concerns

China moves to take ‘golden shares’ in Alibaba and Tencent units

Beijing changes tack in its efforts to secure a firmer grip on the country’s tech giants

www.ft.com

Edit: Weird, I could read the Financial Times article before I linked it. Didn't realize it was paywalled...

EXCLUSIVE Fretting about data security, China's government expands its use of 'golden shares'

The Chinese government has been expanding its practice of taking minority stakes in private companies beyond those specialising in online news and content to firms possessing large amounts of key data, two people with knowledge of the matter said.

www.reuters.com

TheMadTitan said:
Every take I've seen by (by people actively using the app) has been centered around fear mongering from entrenched parties, doubly so after it came out that Facebook used a GOP lobbying firm to run a scare campaign in Congress.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2022/03/30/facebook-tiktok-targeted-victory/

Facebook funded anti-TikTok campaign through GOP firm

Targeted Victory planted op-eds in regional news outlets.

www.theverge.com

Meta can’t buy TikTok, so it hired GOP operatives to run a smear campaign

Consultants placed op-eds, pushed local news to run stories maligning TikTok.

arstechnica.com

Thank you guys.

nogoodnamesleft · Mar 16, 2023

Stop spying on our citizens only we are allowed to do that

US threatens TikTok ban if it is not sold - report [BBC News]

One Winged Slayer

Two Pieces

▲ Legend ▲

Shin Megami TC - Community Resetter

Account closed at user request

▲ Legend ▲

Teyvat Traveler

Account closed at user request

▲ Legend ▲

Saw the truth behind the copied door

Deleted member 8257

Alt-Account

GOTY Tracking Thread Master

One Winged Slayer

You wouldn't toast a NES cartridge