Discussion

• @davepell Dave Pell on threads

  If China's control over TikTok was so complete, couldn't they just push TikTok disinformation to convince Congress to see the app as harmless?

• @adam_kinzinger Adam Kinzinger on threads

  Ask yourself why, in this very divided time, reps and dems agree on the TikTok sale.  Because they know the truth, a Chinese owned TikTok is a threat

• @edmundlee Ed Lee on threads

  Ok I'll bite on @tiktok.  It's clear Beijing has control over ByteDance which in turn controls TikTok.  But they're not after data (easily available elsewhere) they want influence.  TikTok is a media company and now Congress, perhaps unwittingly, is finally codifying into law tha…

• @miasato.2 Mia Sato on threads

  I keep seeing the TikTok push notification being cited as an example of the “control” the company has on Americans.  Uber has directly lobbied riders via pop ups in the app.  In Jan. I and other NYC DoorDash customers got emails about “ill-conceived” “extreme” laws.... that would…

• @carnage4life Dare Obasanjo on x

  There isn't an equivalent bill in the senate and it would be suicide with young voters if Democrats become the party that banned TikTok now that Trump has come out against it. [image]

• @tedcruz Ted Cruz on x

  I've been very vocal about my concerns about TikTok. TikTok is controlled by the Chinese Communist Party and gives China the ability to monitor Americans. This is deeply concerning, and I look forward to the Senate debating the issue. [video]

• @michaelsobolik Michael Sobolik on x

  New push notification from @tiktok_us to American users today. Looks like they're running the same play in the Senate as they did in the House. [image]

• @alexisohanian Alexis Ohanian on x

  So I shared my POV on the TikTok ban and got a lot of questions from you all... I can tell from my replies that lots of you love TikTok, but it's still a key media source that is ultimately not controlled by the US. I think it's the right move that the US didn't ban TikTok... [vi…

• @sentomcotton Tom Cotton on x

  TikTok is a tool of Chinese Communist propaganda, and the Senate should take up and pass the House legislation to force the app to sell. [video]

• @counterpoint_politics Jon Cooper on threads

  I can't believe how many people are suddenly okay with the government banning entire media platforms because they are afraid of the country the app comes from I thought we all agreed for years that China banning it's citizens from accessing our media platforms was authoritarian a…

• @mkarolian Matthew Karolian on threads

  The TikTok free speech argument is the most ridiculous BS I've encountered in some time.

• @simondowens Simon Owens on threads

  I think the only real justification for a TikTok ban is that China has been blocking American social media companies from competing in its country for years, and so therefore that gives TikTok an unfair business advantage.  But even this justification doesn't really hold up all t…

• @lazy.var D.B. Galeli on threads

  Lots of shitty takes on TikTok going around If there were a genuine desire to protect citizens and uphold virtues, people wouldn't be pontificating We'd pass a federal privacy act that would limit *all* companies + intelligence agencies from collecting data …

• @professorcasey Casey Fiesler on threads

  I know that not everyone is aware of this - because apparently our policymakers 👀 are somehow managing to curate feeds consisting of nothing but teenagers dancing - but some of the very best science communication happening out there right now is on TikTok.

• @counterpoint_politics Jon Cooper on threads

  Genuine question for people who support the TikTok Ban: Do you also support China banning American social media apps, citing the same national security concerns that our government is using to justify the ban?  If not, why is it okay when we do it but not when they do it?

• @parkert Parker Thompson on threads

  This is really a horribly naive and/or disingenuous take.  It will obviously end in divestiture not a ban unless the CCP decides otherwise.  Forcing divestiture by proxies of hostile governments of major media properties is not likely to be unconstitutional any more than CFIUS bl…

• @vincentorleck Vincent Orleck on threads

  Never forget... “The firm, Targeted Victory, reportedly planted op-eds and letters to the editor in major local and regional newspapers across the country.  A Targeted Victory director told staff that the firm needed to “get the message out that while Meta is the current punching…

• @eshumarneedi @eshumarneedi on threads

  On Wednesday, the House passed a bill that, if signed, would start a 160-day clock for the Chinese-controlled ByteDance to divest TikTok — or else risk a total ban.  TikTok has gone into overdrive mode, sending push notifications to its American users pushing a false narrative — …

• @mattrichardson Matt Richardson on threads

  Best take I've heard on the TikTok ban: “They want to ban TikTok because they're going to steal our data?  I don't really care, I have unlimited data.”

• @mattnavarra Matt Navarra on threads

  More U.S. TikTok users are turning to the social media app for news via @chartrdaily

• @taylorlorenz Taylor Lorenz on threads

  Good piece by Max Read on the arguments against TikTok https://maxread.substack.com/ ...

• @justinkollar Justin Kollar on threads

  I don't even like TikTok but this is exactly right.

• @taylorlorenz Taylor Lorenz on threads

  It's really telling and should concern anyone who cares about free speech

• @ryanwittler Ryan Wittler on threads

  Someone in the comments on this post made a great point (albeit using language and name-calling that Taylor doesn't deserve): If people like Libs of TikTok are so influential that they can cause harm to children through the platform (which is 100% true), why isn't the CCP having …

• @technicallymims Christopher Mims on threads

  It's entirely possible that our Congress is sclerotic and sinophobic and just out of touch with the youths, AND that TikTok exerts subtle influence over what is seen on their app in ways we might not like.  I mean, every social media company does this!  Would be weird if TikTok d…

• @melissakchan Melissa Chan on threads

  The US forced the Chinese entity owning the LGBTQ dating app Grindr to sell it.  This kept people safe — Beijing is an explicitly anti-gay autocracy.  That it had access to data of LGBTQ communities around the world could literally kill people.  A TikTok divestment has precedent.

• @daveleebbg Dave Lee on threads

  A sense of how things are being received on TikTok

• @melissakchan Melissa Chan on threads

  Well-meaning Americans who say this US bill on TikTok is anti-Asian racism / xenophobic appear unaware of the Global South's wariness of TikTok.  India, Pakistan, Vietnam, Taiwan, Indonesia, etc. — all have outright bans or limits on TikTok.  These are Asian countries!!

• @melissakchan Melissa Chan on threads

  The same Americans saying the bill on TikTok is racist / xenophobic make no mention of China's ban of Google, Insta, FB, X, etc.  Why this double standard of criticism?  What about China's “racism” for banning US tech?  Because this isn't about racism, it's about national securit…

• @jcbenavente56 JC Benavente on threads

  And it's not like China bans TikTok in its own country, eh (yes we know, Douyin: different code base, different algorithm, different content, different rules of engagement, so, no, not the same app).  Why are we so insistent on keeping a hacker portal run by organized cybercrimin…

• @bobsmithreal123 Bob on threads

  Won't stop CCP completely, so US should continue to enable the CCP to make it easier.  Got it.

• @zerochillfactor James Wallace on threads

  We don't allow foreign ownership of any media company in the US.  China doesn't allow our social media services to operate in their country.  ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

• @scottinsf Scott Anderson on threads

  “The President will be given the power to ban WEB SITES, not just Apps.”  POTUS should not be given the power to ban either.  Explicit well documented triggers need to be legislated.

• @david_ingram David Ingram on threads

  I think it is a bit odd for Tech Dirt to feel so confident in what is “unconstitutional” when no precedent appears safe with this particular Supreme Court https://www.techdirt.com/...

• @karissabe Karissa on threads

  In all the years of China/TikTok rhetoric, no one — to my knowledge — has ever proved that the Chinese govt has manipulated TikTok or obtained user data from it.  So many of the dire warnings are based on speculation about something that could *theoretically* happen or straight-u…

• @davidsacks David Sacks on x

  Supporters of the TikTok bill insist that it will never be used to accuse American sites of working for foreign enemies. Literally the same people accuse opponents of the bill of working for foreign enemies.

• @seran72 @seran72 on x

  the bill *might* target a real risk. it hasn't been made clear. as masnick points out, the classified evidence wasn't convincing to all. even if the risk was proven real i would not be convinced this bill is the best/right way to combat it https://www.techdirt.com/...

• @kbode Karl Bode on threads

  I wrote about how the TikTok ban is a political dead end for democrats, doesn't solve the problem(s) it claims to fix, and doesn't have the support of the people congress claims to represent:

• @11thjeff Jeffrey Phillips on threads

  I'm realizing now, as I see the division over TikTok, that most younger internet users really haven't LOST a major platform before.  Everything that was here 10 years ago is still here (except Vine, and that's TikTok now!) …

• @walkerbragman Walker Bragman on threads

  Are Dems really shorsighted enough to ban TikTok when Biden is already underwater with young voters over his handling of Gaza?  This will more directly affect Gen Z voters than most of this administration's policies.  In an election where the message is “democracy is important to…

• @keithboykin Keith Boykin on threads

  TikTok is used by nearly two-thirds of Americans under 30.  Who thought it was a good idea to ban a popular social media app for young people right before a crucial presidential election?

• @waxmonkey.bsky.social @waxmonkey.bsky.social on bluesky

  this worries me, but also not acting worries me and for the same reason  —  im just a big ol ball of worry hows your friday [embedded post]

• @carnage4life Dare Obasanjo on x

  This is the #1 reason I don't believe the TikTok ban/divesture will happen. [image]

• @masiosare Luis Zaldivar on threads

  Remember when I said this is Patriot Act V2?

• @drewpusateri Drew Pusateri on threads

  It's peripherally relevant to consider the many times Meta apps have been temporarily or permanently banned by foreign countries—very occasionally for vaguely legitimate beefs but overwhelmingly for terrible reasons. …

• @vincentorleck Vincent Orleck on threads

  Well at least this TikTok-focused bill is reminiscent of the legislation that was passed several years ago that prevents foreign govts and enemies from targeting us with mis/disinformation on Facebook and other platforms in order to disrupt our elections.  Oh...wait

• @impersonalbrand Aaron G on threads

  TikTokcels yelling at me: if they do this to TikTok, then what's stopping them from going after ALL of social media!?  What about Twitter, Facebook, Instagram!?!  You just want ALL of it regulated!?!?  Me:

• @aaron.rupar Aaron Rupar on threads

  “That is an out and out lie” — Rand Paul and Brian Kilmeade get into a heated exchange about TikTok, with Paul going as far as to accuse Kilmeade of “defaming” TikTok.  Kilmeade is visibly taken aback by the allegation.

• @thatcorporatelawyer Henry Nelson-Case on threads

  TikTok is definitely the petty stubborn middle child and will just dip out from the US rather than sell to a US owned company.

• @andrewm.entrepreneur @andrewm.entrepreneur on threads

  I'm not sure TikTok needs to go, but the fact that many young people get their news from TikTok is scary.

• @taylorlorenz Taylor Lorenz on threads

  It's not similar to Grindr!  And it is a ban bc the company can never sell in 180 days even if it wanted to.  By your logic those proposed laws restricting kids under 18 from using social media also aren't bans.  But they are.  That's the point.  Even lawmakers involved in the ti…

• @miasato.2 Mia Sato on threads

  I get that it's easier to make fun of the idea that a bunch of ignorant/confused kids called their congressperson about the TikTok ban, but I'd like to remind everyone that the average TikTok user is in their 30s.  Everyone making money on TikTok is old enough to vote.  We should…

• @drewharwell Drew Harwell on threads

  Contrary to this: Source today said the classified briefing Tuesday on the national security risks of TikTok given by intel officials offered no new smoking gun or evidence of Chinese coercion and that some left underwhemed

• @bobbyallyn @bobbyallyn on threads

  The WSJ's autopsy of what led to the House's TikTok vote really clarifies the extent to which videos about the war in Gaza proved pivotal in mobilizing lawmakers — feel like this point isn't getting as much mainstream attn as it should https://www.wsj.com/...

• @drewharwell Drew Harwell on threads

  I see this a bit differently: In the five years since the CFIUS probe began, the U.S. government has not offered a single piece of evidence supporting Chinese interference in TikTok.  If vague corporate shadiness and smell tests were enough to ban a speech platform, Facebook and …

• @kevinroose Kevin Roose on threads

  Some of the “vague corporate shadiness” literally *was* “Chinese interference in TikTok”!  It was ByteDance not being able to keep its distance and let TikTok run independently, despite explicitly promising it would.  That was the evidence!

• @technicallymims Christopher Mims on threads

  Enjoying the healthy debate about TikTok.  I have no horse in this race other than the Jonathan Haidt-esque conviction that no young people should be allowed on social media before high school.

• @taylorlorenz Taylor Lorenz on threads

  I wish there was more debate that engaged with reality though, there are legit reasons to critique tiktok, but you and others have shared a totally debunked NYT article.  That really bad reporting ends up skewing these convos.  I think this is why tech journalists need to learn h…

• @ryanhatesthis Ryan Broderick on threads

  The anti-TikTok push in Washington is built on top of a mess of false assumptions and bizarre contradictions.  Namely, that US lawmakers assume it's a powerful Chinese cyberweapon and, troublingly, want to own it. https://www.garbageday.email/ ...

• @jw Josh Williams on threads

  We can hem and haw all day about whether or not banning TikTok is smart, politically expedient, or useful in any way, but... The fact remains that Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, and even Pinterest are banned in China... and that we allow the asymmetry to exist without some sort o…

• @rakeshlobster Rakesh Agrawal on x

  In an alternate timeline, Disney would buy TikTok. But TikTok is worth roughly the same as Disney. (Based on likely private valuation.)

• @davidsacks David Sacks on x

  A simple way to improve the TikTok bill would be to clarify that it does not apply to any U.S. company unless it is majority owned/controlled by persons or entities from a foreign adversary country. Until then, this bill is clearly a Trojan Horse to control U.S. apps & websites.

• @carnage4life Dare Obasanjo on x

  Few things show how much the media has memory like goldfish as the handwringing around the TikTok “ban”. 1. It's not a ban. It's a forced sale. 2. The US has banned lots of Chinese companies and this is mild compared to Huawei and ZTE. 3. There's lots of precedent for this. [imag…

• @sarafischer Sara Fischer on x

  The likelihood that TikTok is actually removed from app stores (if a law even passes and there's no sale partner established) before the November election is very small. Whole thing would likely go to court and that could take months or years to sort out.

• @internetcases Evan Brown on x

  Great piece by @ZeffMax that highlights the passage of the TikTok ban bill in the U.S. House and how you should be concerned about its broad and vague criteria that could impact a wide array of apps and websites.

• @zeffmax Max Zeff on x

  The TikTok ban is not just about TikTok.  I dove into the actual text of the TikTok bill with technology lawyers.  They said this bill applies to a wide range of apps, thanks to some vague language in the bill.  TikTok will be the first app banned under this proposed law, but it …