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> [the CCP could] have an "accidental" data breach and disclosure of every TikTok users private communications. [...] So yes? It's a geopolitical thing and not about user privacy.

That sounds like both.

From an individuals point of view yes. But if the US government cared about our privacy they'd do something about FB, Amazon and Google.

Surely the CCP could get better value for $75B rather than burning one of their tech stars to the ground.

A data breach has rarely burned a company to the ground. The other option of using it for direct influence is probably a bigger threat anyway.

If the CCP wanted to cause chaos in the US, they would stop container ships from leaving China bound for North America.

More effectively, they could use tiktok data to blackmail specific people.