Chief TWiT 

I really wonder how these members of Congress propose to "ban" TikTok.

Remove it from the app stores? Great. No more security fixes for users.

Build a great Firewall of the US? Pretty unseemly for a "democratic" nation.

Make it illegal to have TikTok on your phone? Pardon me, citizen. I need to examine your device.

Failing a workable way to ban an app I'm afraid this is all just performative sabre rattling.

Mar 23, 2023 at 2:40pmWeb
Show threadSimon ZerafaMar 23, 2023

@leo

I can see the eBay ads now for any old insecure smart phones being sold for a premium because they have TikTok installed 🫤🤦‍♂️

Show threadIcySharkMar 23, 2023

@simonzerafa @leo

This will probably work better on iPhones. With Android you can sideload something. Google has been fighting with people allowing Android Auto to run all aps (e.g. YouTube and Netflix). They ban a version, you get the app, change a string, build, and install it. Now it looks like a new app to Google.

Show threadKhalid ⚡Mar 23, 2023

@leo You could probably ban them from hosting their app infrastructure on U.S. or European servers.

The lag and degraded user experience might be enough to drive folks nuts.

Show threadIcySharkMar 23, 2023
@khalidabuhakmeh @leo doesn't banning them from hosting or storing their app/data in the US make it "worse" (from the US protectionism POV)? Moving all their data out of the hand of US laws?
Show threadKhalid ⚡Mar 23, 2023

@IcyShark @leo another thing the U.S. could do is keep American businesses from advertising on the platform. We already have embargoes in place for other things.

That would effectively break TikTok's revenue model.

I'm not arguing these are good or bad, just that lawmakers could take these steps.

Show threadDirtJeansMar 23, 2023

@khalidabuhakmeh @IcyShark @leo

This seems the most likely scenario to me.

Show threadVictor CajiaoMar 23, 2023
@leo forcing Apple and Google to use their app kill switch?
Show threadIcySharkMar 23, 2023

@victorcajiao

This will probably work better on iPhones. With Android you can sideload something. Google has been fighting with people allowing Android Auto to run all aps (e.g. YouTube and Netflix). They ban a version, you get the app, change a string, build, and install it. Now it looks like a new app to Google.

Show threadKevinMar 23, 2023
@leo big honkin fine for bytedance to offer it, an actual large % of global revenue. Not sure that'll work. VPN to another countries App Store, buy there.
Show threadScott JensonMar 23, 2023
@leo I totally appreciate your point, banning a single app is impossible to enforce, and intellectually precarious. As an many have already said, if we were to have a stronger set of data protection laws in place (one can dream), this would make the problem SO MUCH easier: just pull any app that violated those laws.
Show threadPHolder  Mar 23, 2023
@leo Well of course Leo, in order to restore the faith in public order, you are required to install this monitoring app to help your government help you give up your TikTok obsession. Don't mind those regular pings to the Secret Service, FBI, CIA and NSA... that's all part of the protections we offer you! 🙃
Show threadKay Ohtie 🎈🌵🐺Mar 23, 2023
@leo @tonytins I feel like most of them want to ban TikTok because it's made recording and publishing cops doing cop things quick and accessible
Show threadJames GuilfordMar 23, 2023
@leo On the other hand, congressional efforts to ban TikTok may inspire an entire generation to finally start voting!
Show threadIcySharkMar 23, 2023
@leo hold all the end-users responsible (i.e. fining everyone who uses it)?
Show threadRyan 🐧Mar 23, 2023

@leo
I think it’s a big effort in mis-direction.

“See, we are showing we’re strong on our citizens’ data against other state actors…but pay no attention to our ongoing efforts to remove women’s autonomy over their own bodies & against other vulnerable people within our own borders!”

Not saying this isn’t important, but things our own gov’t is doing has more for-reaching effects.

Show threadnobloatMar 23, 2023
@leo Are there any known substantial cases of espionage that are related to Chinese companies, or is it just because it's China? There are clear evidence of bad practices in US government and tech companies yet the US wouldn't like it if non-US countries started banning their tech giants.
Show threadTim ChambersMar 23, 2023
@leo The threat of a ban is to force a sale to US entity, I think.
Show threadThe DoctorMar 23, 2023
@leo They've been talking about a great firewall of the US off and on for the last fifteen-some years back home. So far they haven't actually tried to get it done because nobody wants to be the first to take the political hit in case it fucks up.
Show threadMurphestophelese MurphMeisterMar 23, 2023
@leo What would make more sense than all this hand-waving on the part of Congress would be real, substantive privacy legislation from companies abroad and domestic. That would help solve some of these problems, but will probably never fly without huge public pressure.
Show threadBarry LygaMar 23, 2023
@leo Couldn’t they legally compel Apple and Google to nuke the app on everyone’s phone? There is a kill-switch, after all.
Show threadBarry LygaMar 23, 2023
@leo (Not saying it’s a good idea or advisable in the least, just doable.)
Show threadSebastian SanneMar 23, 2023
@leo They’d likely prohibit all transactions with the company as part of trade sanctions. No need to get into technological or user-facing measures.
Show threadLehti JuoksijaMar 23, 2023
@leo I'm pretty sure Google Play Services is capable of uninstalling apps without the user's consent
Show threadGQBMar 23, 2023
@leo Do they end up trying to require Apple to implement its rarely used ability to yank apps off of a phone without the owner’s knowledge or consent? And would Apple do it?
Show threadStockwellMar 23, 2023
@leo Apple and Google have kill switches they could use if ordered to.
Show threadDullatipMar 23, 2023
@leo You have missed the point :). "BANNING TIK TOK" is the point. Whether it is true or false, logical or illogical, implementable or unimplementable, does not matter.
This is the way!