‘We Must Ban TikTok!’ — Senate, House, FCC Agree
TikTok’s days are numbered in the U.S.—if the GOP has its way. Because the app is “a sophisticated surveillance tool” that embodies China’s “techno-totalitarian control,” they say.
House Republicans and the Trump-appointed FCC chair are stepping up their efforts to ban ByteDance’s baby. They argue there’s no workable solution and the only fix is an outright, nationwide ban.
Can you feel which way the wind is blowing? The answer, my friend, is in today’s SB Blogwatch.
Your humble blogwatcher curated these bloggy bits for your entertainment. Not to mention: Everything.
GOP: No FYP for U
What’s the craic? Manish Singh reports—“India set an ‘incredibly important precedent’ by banning TikTok, FCC Commissioner says”:
“China could use it to track Americans”
Brendan Carr, Commissioner of the FCC, warned that TikTok “operates as a sophisticated surveillance tool,” and … that banning the social app is a “natural next step.” [His] remarks further illustrates a growing push among U.S. states and lawmakers that are increasingly growing cautious of TikTok, which has amassed over 100 million users in the nation.
…
The U.S. House banned TikTok on all House-managed devices last week, citing a “high risk due to a number of security issues.” The move followed nearly two dozen states at least partially blocking the app from state-managed devices over concern that China could use it to track Americans and censor content.
What else did he say? Dia Rekhi spoke to “FCC commissioner Brendan Carr”:
“Serious national security threat”
India … is a ‘guide star’ for other countries, a top US official [said]. In view of the concerns over the Chinese short video app being a threat to “national security,” nothing short of a “blanket ban” … will work, according to Brendan Carr. … Carr’s comments come amid an increasing crackdown on TikTok by the US government.
…
Federal agencies such as the White House and the Defense, Homeland security and State departments have already banned TikTok. Last week, Catherine Szpindor, the chief administrator of the House of Representatives, also instructed all staff and lawmakers to delete TikTok from their devices.
…
TikTok “operates as a sophisticated surveillance tool and that presents a serious national security threat. … All of the sensitive and non-public data is going to Beijing,” and could be used for “blackmail, espionage, foreign influence campaigns and surveillance. … That’s a nightmare scenario. … If you look at the history of TikTok’s malign data flows and its misleading representations, I don’t see a path forward for anything other than a blanket ban.”
Read the room, ByteDance. Chuck Todd meets Mike Gallagher—“TikTok is ‘digital fentanyl,’ incoming GOP China committee chair says”:
“Techno-totalitarian control”
Republican Congressman Mike Gallagher of Wisconsin … recently introduced a bill to ban TikTok … due to its parent company [ByteDance] essentially, reporting to and/or owned by the Chinese government, however you want to look at it. But explain why you call it “digital fentanyl”?
…
“It was FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr who originally called it ‘digital Fentanyl.’ … It’s highly addictive and destructive and we’re seeing troubling data about the corrosive impact of constant social media use, particularly on young men and women here in America. [And] it ultimately goes back to the Chinese Communist Party. … And so, I was glad to see my colleagues in the Senate pass, in unanimous fashion, a ban of TikTok on government devices. I think we should do the same in the House and expand that ban nationally.
…
“I am concerned about the Chinese government effectively compiling dossiers filled with our data. … I’m concerned about TikTok’s ability to track your location, track your keystrokes, track what websites you’re visiting, even when you’re not using the app. … They seem to be perfecting this model of techno-totalitarian control … a model they’re going to export around the world.”
But mah For You page! allcoolnameswheretak explains why we should care:
TikTok is an app controlled by a Chinese company. Which effectively means that it is controlled by the Chinese government. Which is an authoritarian government that is competing and sometimes hostile to the West, and western values, like Democracy, liberty of the individual, and free speech.
And this government is also allied with equally authoritarian nations who are some of the greatest enemies of Democratic nations, such as Iran, North Korea and Russia. The latter of which is waging a brutal war of territorial conquest against its democratic neighbouring country of Ukraine, as punishment for aligning with … the West instead of Russia.
Also lets remember that most Western social networks and other Internet companies are banned in these repressive countries.
OK, but fentanyl? thefurdrake isn’t impressed by the simile:
TikTok is obviously bad, but it’s pretty difficult to respect “TikTok is digital fentanyl” when a position someone supports isn’t getting enough attention/clicks/emotional weight.
Yet it’s ridiculously popular. Here’s Matteo Cellini—“TikTok is replacing Google for GenZ”:
“GenZ workers will account for 27% of the workforce by 2025”
For many GenZ, TikTok is quickly becoming the single source of information. … And this may also be a worrying trend, considering the amount of misinformation.
…
TikTok is also replacing Linkedin? Back in the summer of 2021, TikTok launched a pilot program called ‘TikTok Resumes,’ where it partnered with some companies to accept TikTok videos as the resumes to consider for specific roles. Since then … the hashtag #tiktokresume has totaled over 360 million views, and is still being used in recent videos. … GenZ workers will account for 27% of the workforce by 2025, so it’s time to stop thinking that they are just high-schoolers.
But but but … whattabout Facebook and the NSA? They’re just as bad! XXongo bursts that bubble:
The US has vastly more transparency than the Chinese government. And, in general, the information collected by US entities is collected for the purpose of more effectively selling you stuff. The US government has problems, but it is not a totalitarian dictatorship which censors every interaction between its citizens.
Surely there’s an Andrew Tate angle? Shanti Das obliges—“TikTok and Twitter under fire over false posts from fans”:
“#freetopG … #tateinnocent”
Social media firms are under fire … for allowing the spread of misinformation by followers of “king of toxic masculinity” Andrew Tate after his arrest in connection with a human trafficking investigation. … TikTok and Twitter were flooded with posts falsely claiming he had been freed and conspiracy theories saying he had been set up.
…
On social media, thousands of supporters have already reached their verdict. On TikTok and Twitter, Tate’s fans claimed without evidence that he had been framed, using hashtags such as #freetopG and #tateinnocent. … Other accounts posted old videos suggesting Tate had been cleared, despite him remaining in detention. … TikTok said it had begun a systematic review of content flagged with it and would remove any that violated its guidelines, which ban “misinformation that causes significant harm to individuals, our community, or the larger public.”
Ugh. Meanwhile, lithos reminds us why India is a bellwether:
China and India have actually shed blood with each other on their borders in the past couple of years. It’s not surprising they’re further ahead of other countries in banning things from China.
And Finally:
The last 2022 mashmix, I promise
Occasional NSFW language, natch.
You have been reading SB Blogwatch by Richi Jennings. Richi curates the best bloggy bits, finest forums, and weirdest websites … so you don’t have to. Hate mail may be directed to @RiCHi or [email protected]. Ask your doctor before reading. Your mileage may vary. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Do not stare into laser with remaining eye. E&OE. 30.
