TikTok

[Sergio sledge]

Not a user myself, but what are people's thoughts on this: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-65630201

I'm not bothered specifically about TikTok, as I said I don't use it, I'm too old for it. :greengrin but I was wondering what peoples thoughts are on the implications of a government banning a social media app from being used by people without, seemingly, any real evidence that it is being used in the way they say it could be used. Seems like they've banned it on the potential that it could be used by the Chinese government to spy on US citizens, rather than banning it because it is being used to spy on US citizens.

Whilst I understand and think the ban on TikTok from government devices is sensible, it seems like a bit of an overstep to be blanket banning something like this for the general public with no evidence and, to put it in American terms, an infringement on peoples 1st amendment rights to freedom of speech and expression.

Having said that, there are other apps people can express themselves on (although the likes of Facebook and twitter are probably not much better in terms of privacy) so maybe it is fine and concerns are justified.

Is Tik Tok a security risk or are they just an unfortunate casualty in the political warfare between the US and China?

[Mon Dieu4]

China are well known for hoovering up intellectual properties so they are definitely at it, on the flip side everyone else is probably up to the same thing as well, so not sure how I feel about it

There was an interesting article on the BBC a couple of days ago about tik tok and a journalist who had done articles on them, they used her phone data to track her down and harass her, Tik Tok claim it was a few employees that went rogue and it wasn't a decision made by them but not sure I buy that one bit

[neil7908]

I think the fact its Montana is telling. Have a look at some of the other laws they have been passing recently and it's pretty clear they are not a state government that runs based on science and logic.

I don't use TikTok myself but given some of the stuff Facebook, Google, Twitter etc get away with in abusing our data, it's extremely hypocritical for TikTok to be signalled out.

When the rest of the world is focusing on the enormous danger posed by Putin and Russia, the American right and lunatics over here like Liz Truss are determined to start another Cold War with the Chinese, one that we can't win and which will decimate our economy.

[Stairway 2 7]

Tik tok is definitely dodgy and intertwined with the government a lot found out about its use to track uyghers. Then again so is huawei but UK gov were happy to go into bed with them for profit, Edinburgh uni closer to home too.