Close to half of American adults support a ban on the Chinese-owned social media app TikTok, according to a new Reuters/Ipsos survey that also asked questions about national security concerns and China.

Close to half of American adults favor TikTok ban, Reuters/Ipsos poll shows::Close to half of American adults support a ban on the Chinese-owned social media app TikTok, according to a new Reuters/Ipsos survey that also asked questions about national security concerns and China.

  • treadful@lemmy.zipEnglish
    399·
    1 year ago

    I can’t believe so many people are cool with the federal government censuring specific platforms. It’s one thing if we wanted to ban an action through law (e.g. data harvesting or shipping it overseas) but it’s another to silence a specific piece of software.

    Imagine if Congress passed a bill saying Steve can’t recommend movies to his friends anymore.

    • Yendor@reddthat.comEnglish
      255·
      1 year ago

      Being worried about CCP controlled apps is a sensible concern. Banning a single app (because Mark Zuckerberg is upset that it’s stealing his customers) is not a helpful solution.

      • treadful@lemmy.zipEnglish
        73·
        1 year ago

        I’m not saying that’s not concerning (it’s why I won’t use it). I think what they can do with widespread analytics and pseudonymous data collection is… potentially impactful in ways we can’t foresee.

        But the Bill of Rights does not only apply to US citizens. And targeted bans are just a tool of government censorship that I’d rather not see wielded by politicians. I think the only reason it’s targeted is because they either don’t have evidence of the negative behavior or they’re unwilling to ban the it because it would impact domestic platforms.

        • Dark Arc@social.packetloss.ggEnglish
          22·
          1 year ago

          But the Bill of Rights does not only apply to US citizens.

          The bill of rights isn’t relevant here. TikTok is not a person foreign or domestic (citizens united not withstanding).

          And targeted bans are just a tool of government censorship that I’d rather not see wielded by politicians.

          This would be hardly any different from the thousands of import bans the US has used over the years. It’s just an app instead of a physical good.

          • SCB@lemmy.worldEnglish
            21·
            1 year ago

            Import bans are similarly terrible, in the vast majority of cases.

          • steltek@lemm.eeEnglish
            1·
            1 year ago

            We put import restrictions on groups of things. We ban cheese from France. We don’t ban cheese specifically from Jacques Cheese Emporium in Lyon but all other French cheese is okay.

    • betterdeadthanreddit@lemmy.worldEnglish
      711·
      1 year ago

      If Steve is a genocidal authoritarian asshole who, in the process of recommending movies, plants listening devices around your home, GPS trackers in your clothing and keyloggers on your computer while browsing through your underwear drawer and file cabinets, I don’t think he’s very good company. Steve might start by showing you Airplane! and Blazing Saddles but once you’re drawn in by the entertainment, he’ll sit you down for the Wolf Warrior movies, Amazing China and The Battle at Lake Changjin.

      Ban Steve, he can keep pushing his agenda on his own family back home. That’s still not an ideal situation but this at least is reasonably within our rights and capabilities.

      • ultrasquid@lemm.eeEnglish
        112·
        1 year ago

        But in that case, it would be a far better option to ban anyone from placing keyloggers on your computer and GPS trackers in your clothing, because that not only stops Steve from doing it, but also Steve’s cousin Alex, and anyone else who would want to do so.