2 ms·

It should not be possible to “ban” software. I am appalled that the government, in collusion with OS vendors, can tell me what software I’m allowed to run on my

It should not be possible to “ban” software. I am appalled that the government, in collusion with OS vendors, can tell me what software I’m allowed to run on my personal devices. In an ideal world, TikTok would be prevented from doing business in the US, but everyone would continue to download the TikTok client and act like nothing happened. Just like with Napster and BitTorrent.

seanmcdirmid 3y ago
It definitely is possible to "ban" software in China. Just block the network addresses needed to run the app. Perhaps the USA could license technology from China to do it? But that would be too ironic. Actually, without something like a GFW, the USA can't do more than "ban" app stores from carrying the app in the US market, they can't even really prevent you from switching markets and using an overseas credit card. But they can definitely ban American based tiktokers from getting paid, or American based advertisers from using the platform commercially, which will probably hurt more than anything.
IAmGraydon 3y ago
I think you’re missing the point that these programs are now indescribably powerful for swaying social sentiment. They can be made into weapons of mass disruption. Of course you and I want the internet to be completely open, but the world has changed drastically since the early days and bad actors have created software that gives them huge amounts of power. It’s utterly irresponsible not to regulate such a thing.
- raydev 3y ago
  That's not what's happening, though. We are banning one app because of its origin country, not because of any principled reasoning on the app's contents. If for some reason TikTok actually disappears, Meta's apps are still there and there will be plenty of money flowing into a new competitor with similar UX.

2 ms·

It should not be possible to “ban” software. I am appalled that the government, in collusion with OS vendors, can tell me what software I’m allowed to run on my

by archagon 3y ago

seanmcdirmid 3y ago
It definitely is possible to "ban" software in China. Just block the network addresses needed to run the app. Perhaps the USA could license technology from China to do it? But that would be too ironic. Actually, without something like a GFW, the USA can't do more than "ban" app stores from carrying the app in the US market, they can't even really prevent you from switching markets and using an overseas credit card. But they can definitely ban American based tiktokers from getting paid, or American based advertisers from using the platform commercially, which will probably hurt more than anything.
IAmGraydon 3y ago
I think you’re missing the point that these programs are now indescribably powerful for swaying social sentiment. They can be made into weapons of mass disruption. Of course you and I want the internet to be completely open, but the world has changed drastically since the early days and bad actors have created software that gives them huge amounts of power. It’s utterly irresponsible not to regulate such a thing.
- raydev 3y ago
  That's not what's happening, though. We are banning one app because of its origin country, not because of any principled reasoning on the app's contents. If for some reason TikTok actually disappears, Meta's apps are still there and there will be plenty of money flowing into a new competitor with similar UX.