Banning TikTok is not the solution | Hacker News Reader

Banning TikTok is not the solution

schneier.com

6 pointsementally8 comments

Is not the solution but is certainly a good start until a solution is found. Also, is not about banning social media, is about banning malware.

The solution has been around for decades - proper, enforced privacy laws, or just use our existing laws such as the CFAA that would no doubt cover spyware already.

...and giant mulit-million dollar fines if caught and into the billions if repeated. The latter happened with Facebook, Instagram and the former with Snap.

> The latter happened with Facebook, Instagram

Which still wasn't enough, as the scum is still running around freely stalking users just as well as before.

Exactly. The regulators still want more, such as the EU who are willing to continue to increase the fines into the multi-billions of euros to the point where Facebook will have to either comply or leave the European market.

Not even the likes of Big Tech companies can get away with it for long. As far as the EU is concerned with TikTok, not only they are starting to get warnings and threats of bans from them, but it is only a matter of time to see TikTok pleading to the EU to not give them a giant fine in the billions just like how Google and Facebook got many to remain in the European market.

Either way, the regulators are never tired of collecting free money from fines, whether if it is €10 million or €10 billion.

I'm still unclear on the question. Is it any more malware than any other time-wasting app? Or is it the same, but Chinese?

I don't doubt that China has no positive intentions for all of the data it's collecting, but I don't really see American firms doing any better with it. It's not like it's collecting your passwords or cracking your bank account. It's just wasting vast amounts of your time, and watching over your shoulder while you do it so that they can do it even better.

Or is there something I'm still mising?

You have recourse against non-China companies. For example, but not limited to:

1. You can change the law on them.

2. You can sue them.

This is what I've been telling people, and no-one seems to listen.

> (comments) The elephant in the room is psychological impact it has on children.

And instagram reels, youtube shorts, anything can and will take its place. Banning social media outright isn't a good idea either, it can be a very usefull tool if we teach kids how to use it correctly.

The issue isn't social media, its that no-one seems to teach kids how to navigate social media.

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