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Comment by badRNG | Hacker News Reader

> TikTok is spyware. TikTok is an adversary.

In what unique ways is TikTok compromising privacy that Facebook isn't that warrants the labels of "spyware" and being "the adversary?"

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I wonder why it would be a valid argument to say "what about Facebook". To me, the same applies to Facebook too, and I don't participate on either platform - well maybe I do on Facebook[0], despite me not registering.

[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shadow_profile#Shadow_profile'...

It's a valid argument in the context of the comment being replied to. If you look at the parent comment, you will see that they are specifically claiming that TikTok is different than other social media companies in its intrusion on privacy.

>No it does not apply just as well to almost any social media.

>TikTok is unique in its control of the user experience, its use of data, and its popularity.

You're right - this is exactly the topic. I replied too hastily.

Because it's Chinese and therefore Evil, of course /s

The CCP is objectively, unironically evil

Its legislation. More transparent governments like the US' are generally trusted with data over closed governments, at least, for the majority of Westerners.

Are you more likely to be harmed by the US collecting data or China?

If a woman is seeking an abortion, is she better off using a service that collects data for the US or China?

Funny thing to say when US-based services are being challenged in the EU because the US government is, in fact, not trusted with EU citizens data.

I think I'm far less likely to be impacted by China having access to the intimate detail of my life, than my own countries government or companies based in my country.

I can't see the Chinese government selling my medical information to health insurers, but could certainly see a local company doing this.

The US government is not transparent, and people try their best not to trust the US with their data.

TikTok is made by China, considered an all-encompassing adversary by proponents of nationalism, conflict, and hatred. Therefore it makes TikTok an "adversary" despite the only unique thing it did was eating into Meta's marketshares.

It's very telling when it comes to topics marginally related to general idea of China (the place, the people, the culture, etc.), these so-called free thinker intellectuals seamlessly transition into Goebbel-like devices as if a switch has been flipped on.

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