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Comment by est | Hacker News Reader

then tiktok may simply provide a web version. Will US build some kind of firewall?

They'll probably end up banning advertisers from paying them, and TikTok from paying content creators. Sure, Americans will still be able to access the content (over an inferior interface), but TikTok will probably be losing money on American viewers (not necessarily a problem for a propaganda outlet), and TikTok won't be able to incentivize good content.

in what sense is TikTok a "propaganda outlet"?

In the sense that they have been known to remove discussion that the CCP doesn't like [1], that they've created an environment where people feel the need to talk positively about China to get views [2], and in the sense that they are controlled by a company with close ties to the CCP (like practically every large company in China, harder to cite this but for an example see [3]).

[1] https://www.engadget.com/2019-09-25-tiktok-censorship-china....

[2] https://www.wsj.com/articles/tiktok-users-gush-about-china-h...

[3] https://www.reuters.com/article/us-bytedance-filing/bytedanc...

You've hit my concern. Which was very little about spyware, and more about having a platform installed on devices all over the world that the CCP can just slip content into whenever it wants. Russia signed up for FB/Twitter/Reddit accounts and spread confusion and lies, imagine if they owned the platforms how much more targeted and impactful it could be.

TikTok seems to impress people with its algorithm serving them content they like, many HNers describe it as addicting even, that sounds like a tool for manipulation (which feels like all the internet is these days anyway, but I digress.)

I also don't like the idea of the US banning apps. But I also don't trust people to choose not to invest attention in TikTok. The world's a muddy, messed up, place.

They will not have remotely the same size of users who will be using the web version. The concern is size of their the control , not that they control at all

> then tiktok may simply provide a web version. Will US build some kind of firewall?

There is no need to do that. TikTok has significant US offices and operations. All the government would have to do is fine them/arrest them if they refuse to follow the law.

Thats how the law works. If you don't follow it, you get fined or arrested.

They already have a web app

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