• QuaternionsRock@lemmy.world
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    8 months ago

    It’s not “being like China” so long as the U.S. does not seek to ban platforms from countries that do not ban U.S.-owned platforms.

    The freedom of information should absolutely be bilateral between states, otherwise the permissive state cedes undue influence to the restrictive one.

    • Viking_Hippie@lemmy.world
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      8 months ago

      Again, Tiktok ≠ China.

      While it can certainly be argued that its ties to the government are problematic, it’s not Tiktok banning US platforms.

      If Tiktok WAS banning platforms for xenophobic reasons (demonstrating intolerance), banning it for that would be prudent as per the paradox of tolerance linked above.

      That isn’t the case, though. The US ban is an intolerant and oppressive violation of the freedom of expression of the users of Tiktok and, yes, even the owners.

      Even if the oppressive Chinese government has a big influence on the platform, that influence hasn’t been proven to cause Tiktok to behave in an intolerant manner, so it’s basically a case of declaring guilt by association.


      The US government could and SHOULD introduce regulations to minimize the amount of data collection and -sharing that Tiktok, Facebook, Twitter, Google and others currently get away with and then punish all transgressions against those regulations.

      AKA regulate and punish bad behavior from anyone doing it, not banning a popular platform guilty only of what congress refuses to try to stop them and others from doing.

      • QuaternionsRock@lemmy.world
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        8 months ago

        Again, Tiktok ≠ China.

        Point to where I said TikTok = China lmao

        it’s not Tiktok banning US platforms.

        I also never said TikTok is banning U.S. platforms, either…

        The US government could and SHOULD introduce regulations to minimize the amount of data collection and -sharing that Tiktok, Facebook, Twitter, Google and others currently get away with and then punish all transgressions against those regulations.

        Yes.

        • Viking_Hippie@lemmy.world
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          8 months ago

          Point to where I said TikTok = China lmao

          I also never said TikTok is banning U.S. platforms

          What you DID say was that it’s ok to ban Tiktok because of the actions of China, namely the banning of some American platforms. That would only make any kind of legal sense if Tiktok indeed WAS China.

          • QuaternionsRock@lemmy.world
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            8 months ago

            Dude, what?

            You claim that banning TikTok would make sense if TikTok was China. How would the U.S. “ban” China if not for banning Chinese private enterprises from U.S. markets?

            • Viking_Hippie@lemmy.world
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              8 months ago

              Since you’re slow on the uptake, let me try an equivalent example.

              Imagine that a UK-based social media based platform is banned im the US for some reason or the other.

              Would that justify the UK banning Google?

              The actions of the Chinese government are not the fault or responsibility of Tiktok and as such punishing Tiktok for them is by definition grotesquely unjust.

              • QuaternionsRock@lemmy.world
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                8 months ago

                Would that justify the UK banning Google?

                …Yes? It’s called a trade war, they happen all the time, and that’s exactly what would go down. What else do you expect them to do, nothing? (They usually end when a bilateral free trade agreement is established between the two parties that covers the industries in question.)

                punishing Tiktok for them is by definition grotesquely unjust.

                Oh no, my poor little $200 billion corporation! I must spend my days fighting for your justice!

                Seriously, how do you expect people to react to that? How could anyone possibly give the smallest fuck about a faceless, soulless corporation unless they have a significant stake in it?

                • Viking_Hippie@lemmy.world
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                  8 months ago

                  Oh no, my poor little $200 billion corporation

                  I don’t give a fuck about Tiktok the corporation. I do, on the other hand, give a fuck about the users of the platform. Especially the ones using it for activism.

                  • QuaternionsRock@lemmy.world
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                    8 months ago

                    I’ve thought about that too, and to be honest, I can’t identify what makes TikTok special in that regard. TikTok’s moderation policies aren’t substantially different from other platforms (except maybe Twitter… fuck Twitter), and I don’t see how it became known as a hub for activists.

                    In either case, relying on a hyper-capitalist platform that is controlled in no small part by an a authoritarian, imperialist, and hostile foreign government through so-called “golden shares”, was always a bad idea.

                    Also, since you claim to care about the users rather than the corporation, you should be happy to know that the U.S. isn’t banning TikTok! They’re banning ByteDance from owning it. TikTok will live on.