• Vodulas [they/them]@beehaw.org
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      8 months ago

      TikTok itself is owned by ByteDance, but is incorporated in the Caymans. It has corporate entities in Singapore, Australia, the US, and the UK. The CEO is US based. Data is collected in Singapore, not China. There is a little evidence someone at ByteDance has access to the info, but according to official statements and documents they do not. But, even if they are lying, China can still buy that information from data brokers just like the US Government does right now.

      We need privacy protection laws, not arbitrary bans of apps that do the same thing as US social media apps

      • thingsiplay@beehaw.org
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        8 months ago

        We need privacy protection laws, not arbitrary bans of apps that do the same thing as US social media apps

        The ban of the application is not to protect our privacy, otherwise they would ban US social media apps too.

    • RavenFellBlade@startrek.website
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      8 months ago

      60% of ByteDance is owned by global investors, most of which are based in the US. 20% is owned by the original co-founders, none of whom have any ties to the CCP, and the remaining 20% is owned by employees, almost all of which are in California. The overwhelming majority of the company is already owned by Americans. This entire thing is all about trying to silence a source of information that challenges and refutes government interests, particularly where Palestine is concerned.

      • thingsiplay@beehaw.org
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        8 months ago

        None of this changes the fact that the operational headquarter of the company is in China and that they collect data that is send to China. Therefore China gets all the data from US citizen, regardless of who the investor is.

        • Vodulas [they/them]@beehaw.org
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          8 months ago

          Except the operational headquarters is not in China. LA and Singapore are the operational headquarters of TikTok. I think you are conflating ByteDance and TikTok as the same entity, and that is not the case, and quite on purpose. TikTok is a subsidiary of ByteDance, and from almost all accounts the LA based CEO makes decisions. They are not sending data to China, they are sending it to Singapore. There are alleged cases of ByteDance employees having access, but nothing has been proven (not saying it won’t be, but we can’t operate on speculation). Also, data brokers exist. China can get “all the data from US citizens” outside of TikTok.

          I am not sure if you are oversimplifying on purpose, but if not you should probably look closer at the corporate structure of TikTok instead of spreading incorrect info.

          • thingsiplay@beehaw.org
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            8 months ago

            Where do you get the information you are spreading? I would like to learn more if you know good sources.

            Except the operational headquarters is not in China.

            instead of spreading incorrect info.

            How can you judge and say it is incorrect, if you don’t actually know all details? Your opinion is not much more correct. What you probably mean is, I should not spread info that is not proven to be correct.

            They are not sending data to China, they are sending it to Singapore.

            but nothing has been proven (not saying it won’t be, but we can’t operate on speculation)

            If it’s not proven, then you are speculating that China does not get the data as well. If that was correct what you are saying, then the US government would not ban Tik Tok. Especially you follow up with a statement

            China can get “all the data from US citizens” outside of TikTok.

            which is probably harder and more complicated than just getting it from Tik Tok. ByteDance is a company for collecting information, so its right in the hands of China.

            • Vodulas [they/them]@beehaw.org
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              8 months ago

              TikTok is literally a separate entity from ByteDance. They are owned by ByteDance, but they are not the same company and operate separately. Again, you are conflating the two

              https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/TikTok

              If it’s not proven, then you are speculating that China does not get the data as well.

              That is not how the burden of proof works. I am not the one claiming the data is sent to China, you are. Please provide evidence of that.

              I am claiming the data is sent to Singapore, which all evidence points to

              https://www.reuters.com/technology/tiktok-moves-us-user-data-oracle-servers-2022-06-17/

              which is probably harder and more complicated than just getting it from Tik Tok

              Probably not harder. Keeping a multinational social media platform going seems way more complex than buying the info. Which is why the US government does it (it is also a way to skirt the constitution, BTW)

              • thingsiplay@beehaw.org
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                8 months ago

                TikTok is literally a separate entity from ByteDance. They are owned by ByteDance, but they are not the same company and operate separately. Again, you are conflating the two

                https://www.bytedance.com/en/products : Our Products > TikTok

                So they have access to the user data from TikTok. Why wouldn’t they are products from that company? Companies split up and organize together to overcome limitations of the system. This is not fan fiction, it is reality how many companies operate.

                I am not the one claiming the data is sent to China, you are.

                No, the US goverment claims that. You mistaken this with my opinion. I am just telling the goverment is blocking Tik Tok because they think China is doing this.

                • Vodulas [they/them]@beehaw.org
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                  8 months ago

                  You clearly refuse to understand what a subsidiary is, and how that relationship works in regards to local regulations.

                  No, the US goverment claims that. You mistaken this with my opinion. I am just telling the goverment is blocking Tik Tok because they think China is doing this.

                  Fuck off with your goalpost moving, bad faith, devil’s advocate bullshit. Don’t waste people’s time with bullshit you may or may not believe, ask for evidence, then bail when confronted with it. Don’t be a shitass, be better