10mo ago

House Passes Bill to Force TikTok Sale From Chinese Owner or Ban the App

www.nytimes.com House Passes Bill to Force TikTok Sale From Chinese Owner or Ban the App

The legislation received wide bipartisan support, with both Republicans and Democrats showing an eagerness to appear tough on China.

The House on Wednesday passed a bill with broad bipartisan support that would force TikTok’s Chinese owner to either sell the hugely popular video app or be banned in the United States.

Republican leaders fast-tracked the bill through the House with limited debate, and it passed on a lopsided vote of 352-65, reflecting widespread backing for legislation that would take direct aim at China in an election year.

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EDIT: Since it seems like some people lost the plot of my comment, somehow…
TLDR: Government sector in USA has 81% of the people in charge agreeing to ban an app, while there are kids being told they are too poor to afford to eat at a building that is mandated by the government to be there.
People dying from overpriced medicine and care? Nothing we can do!
People starving from companies overpricing their shit quality food? Nothing we can do!
People paying more taxes than companies, while those same companies pay little to NO taxes, while raking in "record breaking profits!!!" Nothing we can do!
Some app that allows the people to talk to each other, and to band together, about how shitty our situation is? An app that allows people to voice their issues of our government, freely, while attaining thousands and millions of views with like-minded people who are also sick of their government fucking them every step they can? BAN IT! QUICKLY EVERYONE, BAN IT BEFORE THEY REALIZE WE'RE COMPLICIT WITH EACH OTHER IN CONSTANTLY FUCKING OVER THOSE STUPID PEASANTS!
Seriously, guys. Can you think of the last time we had 81% of our house actively working together to help the people? I sure can't.
- The ban is a good thing because China is an autocracy. Freedom of thought is not acceptable there, otherwise you wouldn't know what I mean when I say the great firewall of China. Their influence is already vast.
  The US isn't a beacon of democracy, but the distance between a flawed democracy and an authoritarian regime is massive. The US Congress is largely ineffective, but this is one thing they've gotten right.
  TikTok, the popular Chinese-owned social network, instructs its moderators to censor videos that mention Tiananmen Square, Tibetan independence, or the banned religious group Falun Gong, according to leaked documents detailing the site’s moderation guidelines.
  https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2019/sep/25/revealed-how-tiktok-censors-videos-that-do-not-please-beijing
  
  They have banned all US based social media, so honestly, why TF do we allow theirs? I get that it sounds xenophobic to an extent to ban an app because of the country it's based in, but I 1000% would not be surprised if China is using this to find kompromat on US citizens and playing the long game to recruit spies / gather sensitive information. The app has the most permissions of any social media app and they are gathering a shit ton of data.
  
  I completely disagree with your reasoning. As I have stated above, all that I've ever been shown is some funny videos sure, but MOSTLY average people like myself who are constantly fucked by those above us all and voice their opinions, freely, on the app. I finally have an app where people aren't posting pictures of their selves trying to pretend they're happy. I finally have an app where I can hear others who think about the systemic injustices constantly bombarding us in this digital era.
  It's quite funny you say they got this one right, but they also allow censoring of our "news" stations here, and the content that is on american social medias. you do see that, right? So, it's okay in your eyes, for a foreign app to be banned, but no restrictions for the apps that american companies deploy that also have a narrative to push? you don't think this could've been a SWEEPING bill that includes ALL social medias? Why just this one? It has been proven that Russia and Chinese bot farms are swamping Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Why is this not something they care about? Truly, I want to hear this from you.
  Why do you think they want to ban this ONE app? To prevent data from leaking out? What data homie? Millions of people crying out to each other that their system is rigged against them?
  Are you insane?
  
  I never said the bill was perfect. It is a good first step. Ideally all social media should be held accountable, but they are the ones who make political donations, so the chances of major overhaul are not all that great.
  They want to ban Chinese ownership of the company because it's politically popular, but it does also have merit. China can and will exert it's influence to it's advantage.
  Tiktok might be a good service right now (...debatable) but it's threat comes from being able to push China's authoritarian agenda.
  And insults have no place in reasonable discussion. Who's mind are you going to change by calling them insane?
  
  Nothing has to be perfect. It just has to work, and mostly work for the people. When it comes to laws, that is.
  Now, let me understand you clearly. You still think that banning some silly little app, where probably in your opinion (since I take it you don’t use it for the “debatable” part) it’s just a bunch of people doing challenges or dancing or whatever silly shit you have in your mind of what’s on there, but you don’t seriously think there are just a little more important shit going on right now than some stupid app, who’s only authoritarian reach on me in the last 4 years is the stupid ads paid for by the shitty companies here in America, like KIDS being told that since they can’t afford to pay for their lunch, they don’t get to EAT!?
  And you’re worried about a fucking APP?!
  Holy. Fuck.
  
  You seem awfully worried about it too
  
  I am. Thank you for noticing.
  It’s batshit crazy the people in charge are more worried about a fucking APP than people going hungry.
  Do you not think it’s insane that a majority of the house voted for something so stupid, but they can’t even agree on wether or not a child should have to pay to eat at a building they are mandated to be at by said government…?
  I suggest you reread my original comment. I added a TLDR for people like you who somehow lost the plot of the comment.
  
  Meh
  
  Ehhh I don't know about that. I've seen plenty of posts dunking on China for being stupid, and they're quite popular.
  
  And to just further point out, because it seems like you ignored the first three sentences of my post, you're fine with our government banding together for this singular app (lmfao) but NOT banding together to actually help the common people? What???
  You don't think their priority should be the former, and THEN we can worry about this stupid fucking foreign app?
  You ARE insane!
- You had me until the conspiracy theory about them banning it because it allows people to talk to each. I mean, fuck, there are plenty of other ways for us to do that that are effectively equally as popular.
  
  I don’t understand where you’re getting hung up on the talking to each other part. It’s not some conspiracy? I was describing the app in its form.
  Short video sometimes long video, frustrated person talking about how insane it is to experience the shit we are experiencing here in the states, I agree with frustrated person, I go to comments, I see a great many others who recount their shit experiences, don’t take them all at face value because that would be stupid, but realize that I am not alone in wanting shit to go back to reality. I want actual adults, leading the world, doing the right things. Everyone likes to sit here and talk about complex issues like that means it’s impossible to fucking solve. I can’t believe we have come to this point.
  
  I'm not getting hung up on anything, the implication that this is a conspiracy to shut down the ability of people to communicate is the clear implication, and essentially the crux of the point.
  
  Right…
  I suggest you read the original comment again….
  I added a TLDR for people like you who lost the plot…
  
  I clearly responded to your full comment because I said I was with you until the conspiracy nonsense. The point of (paraphrased) "They won't help kids, but they'll sure shut down an app that allows us to talk to each other about how bad they are!" is clearly the intent of this legislation is not to protect, but oppress. But it doesn't make sense considering all of the other ways we have to communicate where I see people complaining about how things are.
  
  TLDR: You should be upset these fucks are spending our tax money on banning an app, instead of using our tax money on more important shit like people living in the streets, kids going hungry in schools, kids being sent to work at the age of 12+, and medical debt being an inch away from us all. You should all be as upset as I am. The fact you aren’t, is very very concerning.
  I truly do not care about the app that much.
  You’re right. It is one of the many forms we have to communicate with each other.
  My main comment point was that they are banning some silly little app instead of addressing way more important things.
  It’s insane that they are banding together for the first time in years (besides when they want to increase their paychecks!) where there unanimous backing from both sides.
  That’s all my comment was trying to get across.
  You have people cheering that these fucks have banded together to get an app banned, but they can’t even agree to feed children.
  “Yeah! I HATE TikTok, this is GOOD news!” But refuse to look at ALL the other issues going on that should definitely be a way higher priority than some stupid app.
  That’s the main point. There’s no hidden conspiracy to find. It’s the fact we care so much about banning an app, but not about more important shit like feeding our fellow citizens and making sure our children are cared for properly.
  Insane. It’s just insane to me we’re fine with our government spending our taxes and shit on this.
  
  There’s no hidden conspiracy to find.
  Then you shouldn't have included it as part of your post because it undercuts and detracts from your actual point.
  But, yes, I wish we would do more important things, but there seems to be good reason to ban this app, it's no real loss if it disappears, and Republicans are not going to want to help children, so I don't see what the point is in getting so upset over this.

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