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Maybe I’m just in a cohort that doesn’t trust US companies with this data either. If it’s stored, CCP can find a way to get it, it’s probably as easy as offerin

Maybe I’m just in a cohort that doesn’t trust US companies with this data either. If it’s stored, CCP can find a way to get it, it’s probably as easy as offering to buy it. So I don’t see a big difference. I operate from a mindset that TikTok isn’t opening a new floodgate of data. Maybe I don’t fully understand what data they’re allegedly collecting and if it’s any different than what Google, FB would have on an active user. That said, I still don’t agree that we should strive to be like CCP in terms of censorship, audits, govt regulations, etc.

ergocoder 6y ago
But this should be looked at from the US government's perspective though. US government definitely trusts US companies more that Chinese companies. I don't find it unreasonable to want to ban TikTok. Seems like the national security's risk is real.
- idrios 6y ago
  Probably the issue then is that the US government trusts US companies more than Chinese companies, when they shouldn't. I agree with the parent company that if China wanted this data they could probably get it very easily and they most likely probably have it. The frustration is that for years, privacy advocates have been trying to find the right set of words to make people understand that it is bad for US companies have so much data on so many Americans. The argument is always dismissed as not being an important issue, or that it's good for rooting out terrorists or pedophiles. But privacy advocates have also been saying this whole time, "what if this data falls into the wrong hands" on deaf ears. In an ideal world we would ban TikTok but also regulate how user data is obtained, stored, and used by US companies.
- goldenManatee 6y ago
  Trust is based on shared information, therefore access to backdoors is reality of what’s at stake. This spectacle to inform the targeted populace on this one is just modern rallying around the flag. If there were a higher motive than the current fight for most-privileged relationship status between govs and corps this news could be more interesting.
- yibg 6y ago
  My problem with this is now it shifts the goal post on what's considered bad. Chinese companies collecting data is bad, US companies collecting data is better so we don't focus on it as much. When in fact in general massive data collection is a problem and should be dealt with. This is providing a smoke screen.
  - themacguffinman 6y ago
    The US has much stronger legal barriers and recourse for abuse of data as well as strong separation between state and industry. It's not hard to think of why corporate data collection should be treated very differently in the two countries.
    - obmelvin 6y ago
      Unfortunately, only "top tier" companies really care about your data. I get where you are coming from, I just wish we'd also pass legislation that did something about negligent custodians of data.
- tulsua 6y ago
  It's not just about whether the US government trusts US companies more than Chinese companies; it's about gaining access to that data. You can issue warrants warrants for your own jurisdiction, within your own country. Once data crosses country borders, it's much harder to get access to. The US (understandably) wants this data within their own country. Similarly, China also wants this data within their own country.
bryanrasmussen 6y ago
I certainly trust Chinese companies more than US companies as long as I don't think the Chinese government is interested in hurting me or anyone I care about, at which point I trust US companies more - even if the US government also wanted to get me. So having the data in the hands of US companies - problem, having the data in hands of Chinese companies - maybe less of a problem, having the data in hands of Chinese companies when Chinese government doesn't like me for any reason - really big problem, having the data in hands of US companies when American government doesn't like me - approximately as big a problem as before (depending on what reason US doesn't like me) on edit: formatting
- themacguffinman 6y ago
  > as long as I don't think the Chinese government is interested in hurting me or anyone I care about I can't imagine why you don't think that when the CCP actively pursues Chinese activists and Uighur Muslims, including Chinese-Americans with ties (like family) to the mainland. Or maybe those people just aren't anyone you care about.
  - anniefrost 6y ago
    You can't really imagine huh? Because they were promoting separatism? Falun gong were captured after they wanted to be separated from China.
    - themacguffinman 6y ago
      You don't seem to be disputing the basic premise that China is interested in hurting those people.
  - bryanrasmussen 6y ago
    sometimes stating something as a hypothetical - in which to give the widest possible latitude to opposing viewpoint in order to still triumph over it - can attract the attention of indignant moralists who then hector that no possible latitude must ever be given in argument; for those who give latitude are wallowing in corruption.
godelski 6y ago
I don't trust US companies with the data either, but let me tell you the difference I see. - US companies have data. Law requires that government must ask or hack to get that data. - Chinese companies freely share data and government has unfettered access. There's a fine line and I have 3 points to make. 1) In one companies can say "no." In the second, companies can't. The ability to say no is important because as consumer opinion is changing we've seen more companies exercise that power. 2) More data is more power. In the first model data is distributed, in the second model it is aggregated (this is why I'd also never install a WeChat like app even if it came from Facebook). 3) There's a big difference, as an American, if my data is held by another country or not. American politicians and companies have to care about my voice (even if not much) because I elect them and can sue them. I cannot influence CCP politics, laws, or trade agreements. So at least if the data is in an enemy's hands locally I have some chance of doing something about it. One of the key points here is that disliking one doesn't equate to liking another. Disliking Chinese companies does not mean I like that US companies have it. Disliking that US companies have that data doesn't mean that there's no difference in China (enough of the 五毛党 talk). Nuance exits. Good and bad are not discrete values but a continuous spectrum. I'll fight to stop both, but fight harder to prevent the one I have less autonomy over.

ergocoder 6y ago

But this should be looked at from the US government's perspective though. US government definitely trusts US companies more that Chinese companies. I don't find it unreasonable to want to ban TikTok. Seems like the national security's risk is real.

idrios 6y ago
Probably the issue then is that the US government trusts US companies more than Chinese companies, when they shouldn't. I agree with the parent company that if China wanted this data they could probably get it very easily and they most likely probably have it. The frustration is that for years, privacy advocates have been trying to find the right set of words to make people understand that it is bad for US companies have so much data on so many Americans. The argument is always dismissed as not being an important issue, or that it's good for rooting out terrorists or pedophiles. But privacy advocates have also been saying this whole time, "what if this data falls into the wrong hands" on deaf ears. In an ideal world we would ban TikTok but also regulate how user data is obtained, stored, and used by US companies.
goldenManatee 6y ago
Trust is based on shared information, therefore access to backdoors is reality of what’s at stake. This spectacle to inform the targeted populace on this one is just modern rallying around the flag. If there were a higher motive than the current fight for most-privileged relationship status between govs and corps this news could be more interesting.
yibg 6y ago
My problem with this is now it shifts the goal post on what's considered bad. Chinese companies collecting data is bad, US companies collecting data is better so we don't focus on it as much. When in fact in general massive data collection is a problem and should be dealt with. This is providing a smoke screen.
- themacguffinman 6y ago
  The US has much stronger legal barriers and recourse for abuse of data as well as strong separation between state and industry. It's not hard to think of why corporate data collection should be treated very differently in the two countries.
  - obmelvin 6y ago
    Unfortunately, only "top tier" companies really care about your data. I get where you are coming from, I just wish we'd also pass legislation that did something about negligent custodians of data.
tulsua 6y ago
It's not just about whether the US government trusts US companies more than Chinese companies; it's about gaining access to that data. You can issue warrants warrants for your own jurisdiction, within your own country. Once data crosses country borders, it's much harder to get access to. The US (understandably) wants this data within their own country. Similarly, China also wants this data within their own country.

bryanrasmussen 6y ago

I certainly trust Chinese companies more than US companies as long as I don't think the Chinese government is interested in hurting me or anyone I care about, at which point I trust US companies more - even if the US government also wanted to get me. So having the data in the hands of US companies - problem, having the data in hands of Chinese companies - maybe less of a problem, having the data in hands of Chinese companies when Chinese government doesn't like me for any reason - really big problem, having the data in hands of US companies when American government doesn't like me - approximately as big a problem as before (depending on what reason US doesn't like me) on edit: formatting

themacguffinman 6y ago
> as long as I don't think the Chinese government is interested in hurting me or anyone I care about I can't imagine why you don't think that when the CCP actively pursues Chinese activists and Uighur Muslims, including Chinese-Americans with ties (like family) to the mainland. Or maybe those people just aren't anyone you care about.
- anniefrost 6y ago
  You can't really imagine huh? Because they were promoting separatism? Falun gong were captured after they wanted to be separated from China.
  - themacguffinman 6y ago
    You don't seem to be disputing the basic premise that China is interested in hurting those people.
- bryanrasmussen 6y ago
  sometimes stating something as a hypothetical - in which to give the widest possible latitude to opposing viewpoint in order to still triumph over it - can attract the attention of indignant moralists who then hector that no possible latitude must ever be given in argument; for those who give latitude are wallowing in corruption.

godelski 6y ago

I don't trust US companies with the data either, but let me tell you the difference I see. - US companies have data. Law requires that government must ask or hack to get that data. - Chinese companies freely share data and government has unfettered access. There's a fine line and I have 3 points to make. 1) In one companies can say "no." In the second, companies can't. The ability to say no is important because as consumer opinion is changing we've seen more companies exercise that power. 2) More data is more power. In the first model data is distributed, in the second model it is aggregated (this is why I'd also never install a WeChat like app even if it came from Facebook). 3) There's a big difference, as an American, if my data is held by another country or not. American politicians and companies have to care about my voice (even if not much) because I elect them and can sue them. I cannot influence CCP politics, laws, or trade agreements. So at least if the data is in an enemy's hands locally I have some chance of doing something about it. One of the key points here is that disliking one doesn't equate to liking another. Disliking Chinese companies does not mean I like that US companies have it. Disliking that US companies have that data doesn't mean that there's no difference in China (enough of the 五毛党 talk). Nuance exits. Good and bad are not discrete values but a continuous spectrum. I'll fight to stop both, but fight harder to prevent the one I have less autonomy over.