Banning TikTok

Quote: DoubleGold

Banning is not the answer, even for abortion.

The decision has to be freely available.

In this case, it's related to freedom of speech.

Once freedom of speech is gone, might as well remove the Constitution.

The users still have multiple ways to voice their opinions. Do you support allowing enemies of your state full access to your media? Should Hitler have been able to spread his war propaganda unfettered during WWII?

Quote: kenarman

As usual you are totally missing the point. Your privacy is not the issue. The problem with TikTok is that it is controlled by a government that the US will likely be at war with in the next 5 years. The huge pool of data and users can be used to manipulate people and their views to benefit China.

If that's the problem the legislation si trying to solve, it's boneheadedly stupid. Your data is not secure, This huge pool of data is not secure. It is held by private companies and bought and sold at whims to anyone-including governments-willing to write a check. Forcing Bytedance to divest of TikTok will do nothing to keep TikTok's data out of the hands of nefarious actors intent on using said data to manipulate people and their views on whatever, absent a law prohibiting the huge pool of data from being sold.

Quote: kenarman

The users still have multiple ways to voice their opinions. Do you support allowing enemies of your state full access to your media? Should Hitler have been able to spread his war propaganda unfettered during WWII?

I agree with your sentiment.


I'm not sure why Oracle didn't buy her.

That was the plan.

To force a sale.


But no banning.

Quote: DoubleGold

...To force a sale.

Bytedance says it has no intention of selling the app. Imagine the extent of spying the new owners would find.

Two years ago, concerned about national security, the FCC finally banned the sale of Chinese made security cameras that are being used as traffic and security on our City streets and on US military bases.

Quote: Tanko

Bytedance says it has no intention of selling the app. Imagine the extent of spying the new owners would find.

Two years ago, concerned about national security, the FCC finally banned the sale of Chinese made security cameras that are being used as traffic and security on our City streets and on US military bases.

Good info.

That reference was a no-brainer.



I saw a number come across the Dow wires this morning.

About $225 billion valuation for ByteDance, the parent.

Not sure what a subsidiary firm driving $24 billion in USA GDP is valued at.

When congress is bipartisan overwhelming in favor of something, and both Trump and Biden agree, it is probably the right thing to do. I don't know why people support TikTok. AOC and MTG were the two Congressmen who opposed the proposal, so that should be pretty telling in itself.

This is the thing that many people do not realize, when almost everyone agrees on something, except the loons, that does not mean it is a conspiracy that only Alex Jones can see through, it means it is common sense.

Put, the whole China stuff aside (not that you should,) it is just a horrendous video format that is corrupting classic artistry. I just do not get why so many people are willing to risk their necks for an inferior product. It would be equivalent to joining the North Korean Army for their travel options. It is a bad product, and it benefits the most dangerous country on earth, banning should be a no-brainer.

Generally, a government shouldn't override what an adult person chooses.

Children yes, but not adults.


If a group of persons wants to ban abortion, that won't work.

It has to come from within each person.


If a group of persons wants to ban sex changes, that won't work.

It has to come from within each person.


If a group of persons wants to force a vaccine, that won't work.

It has to come from within each person.



Now, if we were a communist or socialist country, yes, ban away, to control the masses because government knows better than the ignorant citizens.

In all of the cases, the way to prevent something is through education not through force.

An individual has the power and authority of their person, not anyone else.

Quote: Gandler

When congress is bipartisan overwhelming in favor of something, and both Trump and Biden agree, it is probably the right thing to do. I don't know why people support TikTok. AOC and MTG were the two Congressmen who opposed the proposal, so that should be pretty telling in itself.

This is the thing that many people do not realize, when almost everyone agrees on something, except the loons, that does not mean it is a conspiracy that only Alex Jones can see through, it means it is common sense.

Put, the whole China stuff aside (not that you should,) it is just a horrendous video format that is corrupting classic artistry. I just do not get why so many people are willing to risk their necks for an inferior product. It would be equivalent to joining the North Korean Army for their travel options. It is a bad product, and it benefits the most dangerous country on earth, banning should be a no-brainer.

Banning TikTok will have no effect on the most dangerous country on Earth, or any other country for that matter. Those malevolent nations can still buy the same data on the open market. What's needed isn't a TikTok ban per se, but a data privacy law.

Quote: Gandler

When congress is bipartisan overwhelming in favor of something, and both Trump and Biden agree, it is probably the right thing to do. I don't know why people support TikTok. AOC and MTG were the two Congressmen who opposed the proposal, so that should be pretty telling in itself.

This is the thing that many people do not realize, when almost everyone agrees on something, except the loons, that does not mean it is a conspiracy that only Alex Jones can see through, it means it is common sense.

Put, the whole China stuff aside (not that you should,) it is just a horrendous video format that is corrupting classic artistry. I just do not get why so many people are willing to risk their necks for an inferior product. It would be equivalent to joining the North Korean Army for their travel options. It is a bad product, and it benefits the most dangerous country on earth, banning should be a no-brainer.

Banning TikTok will have no effect on the most dangerous country on Earth, or any other country for that matter. Those malevolent nations can still buy the same data on the open market. What's needed isn't a TikTok ban per se, but a data privacy law.

Right now, about the only thing I might legislate is offering parents more control over social media, if they don't feel like they have enough control.

I don't feel like there is ever a perfect solution to out of control or unmonitored children. It would be nice if there were, but I don't think that's a realistic goal.