When US bans something to protect itself, that’s OK, but when another country does it, it’s a suppression of free speech and freedoms and whatnot.
Doesn’t this sound a bit off?
Doesn’t this sound a bit off?
This detached observer way of looking at the world is mind boggling. There is nothing contradictory about arguing for the good and arguing against the evil. I think this mindset stems from a fundamental uncertainty in our values, and conclude that our values are just as good as any others. It’s simply not true.
No. TikTok is run by a state hostile to the ideals of freedom and our western way of life. That alone is enough of an argument for banning it: because of values are good, and we don’t want their values. If they are not willing to go above and beyond to demonstrate they will do the same, then ban it. They are not entitled to our attention, our children's attention, or any of our other resources.
Again, no. That fatalistic attitude doesn’t help anyone and is just a suicide pact. We have a responsibility to expand the good in the world. That includes domestically with rooting out our evil, but also includes keeping China out.
This is exactly my point. You’re saying “because the US has done bad things in the past, it has no moral standing to do good in the future”. A lot of bad happened in the Middle East, some parts caused by the US, so that means we can’t ban the evils of China in our country and minimize their harms abroad?
Try this: focus on increasing the good in the world. Don’t be hamstrung by “well the US has done bad things before”. “We can’t do good anymore because we’ve done bad before” is not a valid argument. And no, none of this makes China equally good.
It’s not your job to weigh all the countries of the world on some balance to decide who’s been the most good. That’s that detached observer mindset again, and it does nothing but occupy your mind and sap your agency while bad things continue. Your job is to increase the good in the world. If you don’t care to do so, then get out of the way
We are in a world where our strategic enemy has a foothold on our digital lives and will likely use it against us. This is evidence. We should treat our enemies as enemies. China doesn’t consider itself to be in a friendly competition for dominance. Neither should we.
The enemy was here before TikTok has existed, china is catching up quickly to the western tools for dominance
Companies need to comply with PI laws. Then there is no need to find excuses to keep approved spyware companies operating depending on where the stockholders live.
It doesn't have to, and other countries have imposed restrictions and even outright bans on US tech firms. The EU being the prime example.
No, just regular protectionism and it doesn't get too much flack.
The problem with China is that they are actually suppressing free speech and freedoms and whatnot. Do you disagree that this is the case?
Give me a break.