Meredith WhittakerMar 13, 2024

This is both terrifying and deeply, deeply stupid.

This isn't just about TikTok. The bill gives USG the power to ban any old foreign-owned media/tech they designate as adversarial.
https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-ban-house-vote-china-national-security-8fa7258fae1a4902d344c9d978d58a37?taid=65f1bb38c2c1680001c4da1b&utm_campaign=TrueAnthem&utm_medium=AP&utm_source=Twitter

House passes TikTok ban bill, but its Senate path unclear

The House has passed a bill that would ban TikTok in the U.S. if its China-based owner doesn’t sell. Lawmakers are concerned the company’s current ownership structure is beholden to the Chinese government and poses a U.S. national security threat. A Chinese foreign ministry spokesman accuses Washington of resorting to political tools when U.S. businesses fail to compete. The House bill now goes to the Senate, where its prospects are unclear. TikTok has more than 170 million American users and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Chinese technology firm ByteDance Ltd. A TikTok spokesman is criticizing Congress for being too secretive.

AP News
Show threadMeredith Whittaker
This, at a time when we're facing a second Trump term, when we're already seeing alarming censorship & limits on expression (book banning, LGBTQ resources, etc.) at the state level, where a McCarthy-era environment is in effect for pro-Palestinian speech...
Mar 13, 2024 at 6:15pmWeb
Show threadMeredith WhittakerMar 13, 2024
If this were about privacy & security, then they'd be targeting Facebook, Instagram, etc as well. But they're not. This's about control & I'm not ok with ANY government exercising such control, particularly (as the US here) over the 'rest of world' via US-homed Big Tech platforms
Show threadrrbMar 13, 2024

@Mer__edith If it is about protecting data of US persons, why aren't they going after Lexis/Nexis and other data brokers?

Could it be this?

https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2024/01/nsa-finally-admits-to-spying-on-americans-by-purchasing-sensitive-data/

NSA finally admits to spying on Americans by purchasing sensitive data

Violating Americans’ privacy "not just unethical but illegal," senator says.

Ars Technica
Show threadOskarMar 13, 2024

@Mer__edith

I get the privacy concerns about TikTok, but it's not as if China can't just buy very similar data on the open market.

If it was about privacy, perhaps they should crack down on THAT...

The propaganda possibilities provided by putting the thumb of the scale of the amplification algorithms is to me the more worrisome aspects of TikTok (and X, Meta, Google, etc)

Show threadMisuse CaseMar 13, 2024
@austegard @Mer__edith This is what I keep saying, Meta can sell your data to a data broker who can turn around and sell it to China! This does not solve the problem of China getting your data! But a lot of folks who are like “TikTok is owned by the Yellow Peril country” don’t want to hear it
Show threadOrca 🌻 | 🎀 | 🪁 | 🏴🏳️‍⚧️Mar 13, 2024
@Mer__edith It's a known fack that US Intelligence community are buying data from ad company and data brokers, so they couldn't have wanted to care abt people's privacy, otherwise it'd be trying to blindfold themselves.
Show threadPaul FriesenMar 14, 2024
@Mer__edith It's also just part of the anti-China hysteria that is liable to land us in a really big war sooner or later. We need to de-escalate this thing before we wipe out the planet.
Show threadAvoid the Hack! Mar 13, 2024
@Mer__edith I don't understand the distinction. Much of privacy is about control...
Show threadMeredith WhittakerMar 13, 2024
@avoidthehack but not all control is about privacy
Show threadAvoid the Hack! Mar 13, 2024
@Mer__edith touche.
Show threadАлександр 🏳️‍🌈Mar 14, 2024
@Mer__edith Agree with everything but Palestinian discourse. Fuck them and everyone who supports them at expense of everyone else (LGBTQ+, activists, jews, christians)