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> Dealing with the TikTok problem is low-hanging fruit, in comparison. You reach for the low-hanging fruit first. In this case it appears we're reaching for th

> Dealing with the TikTok problem is low-hanging fruit, in comparison. You reach for the low-hanging fruit first. In this case it appears we're reaching for the low-hanging fruit because it makes easy headlines, has low political risk, and won't change the status quo (Congress won't be successful in their stated goals). It's a distraction from real problems.

tivert 3y ago
> In this case it appears we're reaching for the low-hanging fruit because it makes easy headlines, has low political risk I don't think so. That honestly just sounds like a baseless appeal to cynicism. And as for "low political risk," didn't they just get their phone lines jammed with complaints? > and won't change the status quo (Congress won't be successful in their stated goals) What goals are those? It seems like their big goal is to remove a popular social network from the control of an adversary nation, and this bill would do that. IIRC, CIFUS successful forced the Chinese to divest Grindr. I don't see why this divestment would be out of reach. https://www.theverge.com/2020/3/6/21168079/grindr-sold-chinese-owner-us-cfius-security-concerns-kunlun-lgbtq https://www.theverge.com/2020/3/6/21168079/grindr-sold-chine...
- dpkirchner 3y ago
  > And as for "low political risk," didn't they just get their phone lines jammed with complaints? Sure, and how many people are going to change their votes on the issue? Are they going to take it more seriously than immigration policy, abortion rights, support for Israel, the actual issue of our trade deficit with China, etc? I sincerely doubt it. It's pure distraction. They can point to it and claim they're taking the Chinese threat seriously. > IIRC, CIFUS successful forced the Chinese to divest Grindr. I don't see why this divestment would be out of reach. They invested about $250M, most of which was only a year before they sold it for $600M. They could have fought harder but I doubt they were too upset about that massive, quick profit. TikTok has a lot more at stake -- although who knows, maybe they'll find someone with extremely deep pockets.

tivert 3y ago

> In this case it appears we're reaching for the low-hanging fruit because it makes easy headlines, has low political risk I don't think so. That honestly just sounds like a baseless appeal to cynicism. And as for "low political risk," didn't they just get their phone lines jammed with complaints? > and won't change the status quo (Congress won't be successful in their stated goals) What goals are those? It seems like their big goal is to remove a popular social network from the control of an adversary nation, and this bill would do that. IIRC, CIFUS successful forced the Chinese to divest Grindr. I don't see why this divestment would be out of reach. https://www.theverge.com/2020/3/6/21168079/grindr-sold-chinese-owner-us-cfius-security-concerns-kunlun-lgbtq https://www.theverge.com/2020/3/6/21168079/grindr-sold-chine...

dpkirchner 3y ago
> And as for "low political risk," didn't they just get their phone lines jammed with complaints? Sure, and how many people are going to change their votes on the issue? Are they going to take it more seriously than immigration policy, abortion rights, support for Israel, the actual issue of our trade deficit with China, etc? I sincerely doubt it. It's pure distraction. They can point to it and claim they're taking the Chinese threat seriously. > IIRC, CIFUS successful forced the Chinese to divest Grindr. I don't see why this divestment would be out of reach. They invested about $250M, most of which was only a year before they sold it for $600M. They could have fought harder but I doubt they were too upset about that massive, quick profit. TikTok has a lot more at stake -- although who knows, maybe they'll find someone with extremely deep pockets.