quote:

Originally posted by parabellum:

quote:

Originally posted by SIG228:
Your Chinese made TV is listening to you, and your Chinese made phone, laptop, and tablet is tracking everything you do.

Nope

Got to 2nd Para here, so maybe his words, not mine, will register…

I had a panel burn up this past week. My main panel. I spent hours troubleshooting and researching fixes. Hours and hours. More $ to fix than replace. So I bought a new one, unwillingly, and when I finally got it installed myself it wanted on my WiFi. And I said no. ET can’t phone home. So no, not all your devices are listening to you in some sort of conspiracy. You can enable that feature if you want, but smart money can DISABLE it when it hatches out of the womb. A device needs access from a human still, thank God.

China is the enemy of the US and its ownership of Tik Tok makes the platform and enemy within the gates. Kick it out of the USA.

Elon Musk should bring back Vine to fill the space left by tiktok.

quote:

Originally posted by SIG228:
Your Chinese made TV is listening to you, ...

May be, but it can't do anything with what it "hears," because it's not connected to the network.

quote:

Originally posted by SIG228:
... and your Chinese made phone, laptop, and tablet is tracking everything you do.

I'm going to assume Apple takes measures to ensure its products fabricated in China don't have embedded spyware.

quote:

Originally posted by SIG228:
How is TikTok any different?

You're making the assumption all digital devices are compromised {*}. You have no evidence to suggest it's actually true. This is, literally, OSAF (Opinion Stated As Fact).

If it were true there was any credible evidence digital devices were widely-compromised by China or any threat actor you best believe it would be pretty well known by now. If not by "our" governments, than certainly by the larger security community.

I have seen no suggestions to suggest it's true. And don't think for a hot minute people aren't looking.

TikTok, OTOH, is known to collect a plethora of user data. That is absolutely not in question. The question is whether TikTok does or will share that data with the CCP. It is that potential for their sharing that data that is the concern.

FWIW: I asked Grok. Here was Grok's response:

quote:

What is the Internet security community's take on the probability of TikTok being a threat?

The Internet security community's perspective on TikTok as a potential threat is multifaceted, with various concerns and counterpoints highlighted across different sources:

• Data Collection and Privacy: There's significant concern about TikTok's data collection practices. It has been noted that TikTok, owned by ByteDance, a Chinese company, collects an extensive amount of user data, including sensitive information like location, device details, and browsing history. This has raised red flags about privacy and cybersecurity, especially given the Chinese National Intelligence Law which could compel ByteDance to share data with the Chinese government if requested. This aspect is seen as a potential threat due to the possibility of data being used for surveillance or influence operations.
  
  
• National Security Implications: Several sources discuss TikTok's potential as a national security threat, emphasizing the app's ability to influence public opinion through its algorithm and the possibility of data being used for espionage or to manipulate content for strategic gains. The FBI Director Chris Wray has notably described TikTok as a threat to national security due to its Chinese ownership and the potential for content manipulation.
  
  
• Lack of Evidence vs. Hypothetical Threats: Despite these concerns, there's an acknowledgment that much of the discourse around TikTok's threat level remains speculative. U.S. intelligence has admitted that the threat from TikTok is "purely hypothetical," with no concrete evidence that TikTok has coordinated with the Chinese government for malicious activities. This has led to debates about whether the fears are overblown or if they should be taken seriously given the potential risks.
  
  
• Comparative Risk Assessment: Some in the security community argue that TikTok's practices are not uniquely threatening compared to other social media platforms. Critics point out that many apps collect similar data, but the unique aspect with TikTok is its ownership by a Chinese company, raising concerns about foreign control and influence. There's a call for broader privacy legislation rather than targeting TikTok specifically.
  
  
• Public and Expert Opinion: Public sentiment and expert opinions vary. While some see TikTok as a clear security risk due to its data practices and potential for government control, others view the concerns as rooted more in xenophobia or geopolitical tension rather than concrete evidence of harm. The debate often includes calls for either divestiture of TikTok from ByteDance or a ban on the app in the U.S., reflecting significant concern among parts of the community.

In summary, while there are legitimate concerns regarding privacy, data security, and national security implications due to TikTok's data practices and Chinese ownership, the Internet security community's take on the actual probability of TikTok being a threat remains divided between those who see imminent danger and those who argue the threat is largely hypothetical without definitive proof. This division underscores a broader debate on data privacy, national security, and the role of international tech companies in domestic contexts.

Personally: I'm divided on the question.

{*} I've generally found people who make that assumption, sure in their belief it must be true, fall into one of two categories: They're so paranoid they absolutely refuse to use any modern connected devices or they figure Resistance Is Futile so they make little or no effort to safeguard themselves.

TikTok restores U.S. service after Trump offers executive order to give more time to comply with law

"I would like the United States to have a 50% ownership position in a joint venture," Trump also says

https://justthenews.com/govern...h-time-tiktok-comply

TikTok on Sunday restored service to users in the United States after a brief shutdown after President-elect Donald Trump vowed to issue an executive order temporarily allowing the social media app to keep operating despite a law banning it as long as it is Chinese controlled.

"We thank President Trump for providing the necessary clarity and assurance to our service providers that they will face no penalties providing TikTok to over 170 million Americans and allowing over 7 million small businesses to thrive," TikTok said in a statement.

"It's a strong stand for the First Amendment and against arbitrary censorship,” it added. “We will work with President Trump on a long-term solution that keeps TikTok in the United States."

Trump had announced earlier Sunday on Truth Social that he plans to issue an executive order extending the length of time for TikTok to comply with the law that forces its parent company, ByteDance, to sell the app to a U.S. entity or face a ban.

TikTok went dark on Saturday night but began roaring back to life around midday Sunday.

Trump had said on Saturday he was considering a 90-day extension for TikTok.

"I’m asking companies not to let TikTok stay dark! I will issue an executive order on Monday to extend the period of time before the law’s prohibitions take effect, so that we can make a deal to protect our national security," he wrote on Sunday. "The order will also confirm that there will be no liability for any company that helped keep TikTok from going dark before my order."

Trump also said that Americans "deserve to see our exciting inauguration on Monday" as well as other events.

"I would like the United States to have a 50% ownership position in a joint venture. By doing this, we save TikTok, keep it in good hands and allow it to say up. Without U.S. approval, there is no Tik Tok. With our approval, it is worth hundreds of billions of dollars - maybe trillions," he said.

I hope the CCP takes a major hit on this.

quote:

TikTok, OTOH, is known to collect a plethora of user data. That is absolutely not in question. The question is whether TikTok does or will share that data with the CCP. It is that potential for their sharing that data that is the concern.

If the CCP sees a benefit, they are surely using it. They are actively hacking our infrastructure; why would they disregard free information.

Lots of data being collected across various platforms. Some will use it for (unwanted) business reasons. Some will use it more maliciously. I've no doubt that the CCP would use it to their malicious advantage if one exists.

On the face of it, I'm disappointed in the extension. Whether they are mining data or not, kick them out. They are an enemy of the state. The millions using it here doesn't make it right.

I agree. I’d love to see it kicked to the curb permanently.
America > Some bullshit social media app

I second that strongly.

Third. I'd like to see killed off.

Firefly

Y'all don't think Facebook, Meta, Instagram and Snapchat don't send your data tp the CCP? Those who have Iphones, or use Amazon Prime?

Your roomba sends more info to the CCP.

Just maybe we should shut down OnlyFans, PornHub and YouTube first.