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The security concerns about TikTok has merit but I'm surprised given the reputation of HN, nobody is connecting the dots to lobbying from Israel as a legitimate

The security concerns about TikTok has merit but I'm surprised given the reputation of HN, nobody is connecting the dots to lobbying from Israel as a legitimate reason. In fact in all the past few threads about TikTok ban there is almost no mention of it. There have been numerous strides to push China as the sole reason but there is almost no real risk other than China knowing what you are into to show you more of the same content exactly how social medias are designed to work in America. Tiktok views with #freepalestine tags eclipsed #istandwithisrael by nearly 200 to 1 (videos with pro-Israel views got low single digit millions while videos with pro-Palestine views got nearly 200 times that) and THIS is a better explanation for the panic and why essentially lobbying for the ban of TikTok using China isn't a conspiracy theory (especially since it was discussed by a few US media outlets) and that this really in an attempt to keep young people exposed to an uncensored and unfiltered platform which inevitably causes them to grow more sympathetic with Palestine. It's censorship disguised as a national security threat for a totally unrelated motivator and once again, I'm disappointed more HN users especially those that have been on this website far longer than me were able to connect with all their wisdom they exude in other areas. https://x.com/5149jamesli/status/1880888299080098163 https://x.com/5149jamesli/status/1880888299080098163

alt227 2y ago
> there is almost no real risk other than China knowing what you are into to show you more of the same content The risk here is China having the ability to sway and manipulate opinions of young minds in US over years by controlling what information they see on a daily basis. That is an extraordinary power which should not be underestimated.
- pkkkzip 2y ago
  The algorithm simply shows you more of what people end up seeing and footages that otherwise would never be aired or shared on mainstream media and other US platforms (even X) is what is causing young minds to shift.
  - alt227 2y ago
    I think you are misunderstanding the dangers of 'the algorithm'. It does not simply show you more in the same vein as what you have already watched, it is designed to provoke a reaction in you. To make you watch more content, or to post comments, engage in arguments and debates, all to keep you on the platform to make you watch more adverts. The way it does this is to not show you more of what you have already seen, it is to identify what gets you worked up, and to exploit that by showing you progressively more and more extreme content. It highlights more provocative comments to you that are more likely to make you post an emotional response and engage in a long intense debate that causes more clicks and posts, and feeds more of your emotion back into 'the algorithm'. This is a dangerous spiral which can easily turn somebody who might have a weak opinion on something, into a mouth frothing raged keyboard warrior. This is very powerful and dangerous, and it is purposely designed like this. Allowing the Chinese government to have this power over young US minds? Thats what this is all about.
  - dagss 2y ago
    So...have you first hand read and deployed the code? TikTok could be using blind algorithms as you hint at, but they could also bump content they wanted to. I am convinced that if China put their best minds to it they could use TikTok to sway any election the way they wanted. The data available to them about what reels swayed what people in what direction is immense.
GordonS 2y ago
I think many people are aware that Israel is the real reason behind the ban - the don't want the world to see how truly grotesque the apartheid state of Israel really is. I mean, some of what's happened is so utterly vile I'm not sure I'd have believed it if I hadn't seen/read/heard in on social media with my own eyes - especially when the MSM is so incredibly, overtly pro-Israel. I think people who know about Israel's involvement in the ban don't mention it here on HN, because many Hasbara are here with the same tired lies, deflection, hatred, racism, and accusations of antisemitism.

alt227 2y ago

> there is almost no real risk other than China knowing what you are into to show you more of the same content The risk here is China having the ability to sway and manipulate opinions of young minds in US over years by controlling what information they see on a daily basis. That is an extraordinary power which should not be underestimated.

pkkkzip 2y ago
The algorithm simply shows you more of what people end up seeing and footages that otherwise would never be aired or shared on mainstream media and other US platforms (even X) is what is causing young minds to shift.
- alt227 2y ago
  I think you are misunderstanding the dangers of 'the algorithm'. It does not simply show you more in the same vein as what you have already watched, it is designed to provoke a reaction in you. To make you watch more content, or to post comments, engage in arguments and debates, all to keep you on the platform to make you watch more adverts. The way it does this is to not show you more of what you have already seen, it is to identify what gets you worked up, and to exploit that by showing you progressively more and more extreme content. It highlights more provocative comments to you that are more likely to make you post an emotional response and engage in a long intense debate that causes more clicks and posts, and feeds more of your emotion back into 'the algorithm'. This is a dangerous spiral which can easily turn somebody who might have a weak opinion on something, into a mouth frothing raged keyboard warrior. This is very powerful and dangerous, and it is purposely designed like this. Allowing the Chinese government to have this power over young US minds? Thats what this is all about.
- dagss 2y ago
  So...have you first hand read and deployed the code? TikTok could be using blind algorithms as you hint at, but they could also bump content they wanted to. I am convinced that if China put their best minds to it they could use TikTok to sway any election the way they wanted. The data available to them about what reels swayed what people in what direction is immense.

GordonS 2y ago

I think many people are aware that Israel is the real reason behind the ban - the don't want the world to see how truly grotesque the apartheid state of Israel really is. I mean, some of what's happened is so utterly vile I'm not sure I'd have believed it if I hadn't seen/read/heard in on social media with my own eyes - especially when the MSM is so incredibly, overtly pro-Israel. I think people who know about Israel's involvement in the ban don't mention it here on HN, because many Hasbara are here with the same tired lies, deflection, hatred, racism, and accusations of antisemitism.