RE: https://social.secret-wg.org/@julf/115963296932688188
Can anyone verify this? (I'm not 100% certain of the bonafides of an X account called "YouAnonTV)
RE: https://social.secret-wg.org/@julf/115963296932688188
Can anyone verify this? (I'm not 100% certain of the bonafides of an X account called "YouAnonTV)
@jamesgbradbury @julf No. (If November 1st 2022 didn't clue them in, they're beyond hope.)
Not the specific claim, but there is news coverage claiming that opposition to U.S.A. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is being suppressed on #TikTok.
Standard caution about question headlines applies, of course.
https://cosmopolitan.com/politics/a70144099/tiktok-ice-censorship/
But let's put it this way: the notion has reached Forbes and Cosmo, and isn't just some anonymous poster on Twitter stirring the pot.
@Remittancegirl @JdeBP @cstross It's entirely possible for both to be existential level threats to democracy and peace.
I understand the desire to trust the CCP, but ... don't do it. It's at best a trap. Whatever you think about Russia and Ukraine, whatever you think about Trump and Greenland/Canada, think about China and Hong Kong. Think about China and Taiwan.
Chicom trolls and tankies would have you believe the Hong Kong protests were nothing but puppets of the CIA, and that therefore
@Remittancegirl @JdeBP @cstross That's true ... although knowing what we know now about the pro-fascism techbros, it's hard to imagine someone with less Musk-like ideas about censoring anti-fascist voices in charge.
And a Biden or Harris administration would respect the independence of the techbro corporation in charge ...
... So basically, the whole thing was stacked against democracy and stacked against Democrats etc from the start.
@isaackuo @Remittancegirl @JdeBP Bear in mind the Biden administration pursued anti-trust investigations VIGOROUSLY. They were going after Google, Meta, and Microsoft hard, with Apple presumably in their sights too … when they lost in 2024 and Trump's mob shitcanned all the cases, presumably in return for pay-offs.
@isaackuo @Remittancegirl @JdeBP YES. This is not a movie where the bad guys are opposed by good guys: there are NO good guys, just varying shades between darkest evil and muddy grey.
@Remittancegirl @JdeBP @cstross the protesters had it coming. Just like in Iran. Just like in Minnesota.
It's the same brutal dictatorship playbook.
@Remittancegirl @JdeBP @cstross That said, by all means switch over trade to China. Regardless of their brutal dictatorship, the truth remains that China is still a more STABLE trading partner than the clusterfudge country that elected POTUS Trump twice.
And economic trading ties do at least provide some leverage to deter China from invading Taiwan. That's worth something.
@Remittancegirl @JdeBP @cstross every accusation is a confession. "Oh noes the Chinese could use social media for mass surveillance and influence over US citizens." translates as "We want to use social media for mass surveillance and influence over US citizens"
Well, we know right off that the United States federal gov't did not take majority ownership of TikTok. There is no cabinet position, department, or even side-hustle for TitTok ownership/operation.
So I'd say the 2nd assertion is equally likely to be bullshit.
Just my opinion, I could be very wrong.
@BenHM3 You are semi-wrong: the US government didn't take majority ownership of TikTok *but* TikTok US is now owned by a majority-American board: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cq5yynydvgzo