China could easily buy a lot of the data to do this from American providers or perhaps more easily through the use of tracking cookies.
The angle that got huawei banned from 5g was that entities like NSA want access to these platforms so most times things have intelligence back doors. The problem I can see is if our intelligence wants a back door on for example tiktok on which ccp can then have a back door on nsa or some other letter organisations then we have a serious issue.
Again, U.S. companies are totally fine with selling China the data that would allow them to do the same thing.
This seems like security theater.
US controlled social media companies have screwed over the US enough without getting to usage as a weapon by a foreign adversary that we should all be a bit wary of what China could do with TikTok.
2 Likes
CCP can get direct access to any / all tiktok data. There are no restrictions. Its a different world in China. CCP rules all, you literally can’t say no to any of thier requests.
3 Likes
If I were a gambler, I’d bet that it’s the potential (or perhaps the reality) of manipulating the algorithm that got Congress to issue the TikTok ban.
Some of what I’ve heard in the past is that it’s not so much a security risk TODAY as it might very well become one when today’s youth become tomorrow’s national leaders.
Hence @The_Polymath’s question about where the data is stored becomes a very important question.
YouTube’s algorithm just reminded me that John Oliver, of course, has a segment on the TikTok ban (NSFW for language):
God he can’t even take a photograph like a normal human being.
He’s like the Chandler Bing of Presidents except any humor is unintentional.
2 Likes
I had to google to confirm…
He’s such a tool
It’s part of his new strongman persona. He revamped his image in the latter stages of the candidacy to look more militant, taking cues from dictators.
People are saying he’s out for blood/vengeance/etc. It’s intentional.
I wonder what cyber bulling is… crypto pump-and-dump, maybe?
He himself has been saying this. It’s not a secret. People voted for this on purpose.
2 Likes
Scary
As the US approaches inauguration day it may be useful to remember what FDR said at his second inauguration;
We know now that government by organised money is just as dangerous as government by organised mob.
3 Likes
FDR would have said ORGANIZED
5 Likes
Yeah. I just copied the quote from The Guardian and was too lazy to Americanize it first. Should have known you would nail me on it!
1 Like