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Comment by 2OEH8eoCRo0 | Hacker News Reader

Congress is also being lobbied by TikTok. I've noticed three main opposition points here.

- It's to protect US tech giants

- It's Sinophobic

- Privacy laws for all tech would be preferable

These all deflect from the reason there is a hearing today: Concerns regarding the handling of US user data by a large company with ties to the Chinese communist government.

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Your third point, strict privacy laws for all, would protect American devices from the CCP, no?

Maybe. China also wasn't supposed to have access to US TikTok data but they do. What makes you so sure that they would obey some new privacy law? As much as I'd like better privacy laws, why should US tech giants be punished for what TikTok is doing?

In that case they would be banned under the new law, the same way any other company would.

Because the privacy abuses are privacy abuses, regardless of their country of origin? If Google is already properly respecting their users privacy they won't be affected by a strong privacy law - except we know that they aren't, and therefore we should be cleaning house instead of singling out Tik Tok.

The privacy abuses aren't the issue. Privacy abuses of US citizens by an (increasingly hostile) adversary is the issue. How many years do you think it would take to pass sweeping privacy legislation/overhaul? I think the privacy legislation path is letting perfect be the enemy of good. It's a way to kick a can down the road and possibly never address the specific issue of TikTok. It sounds great. If it were easy I'd pick that path as well.

So what should Europe do? Ban US and Chinese companies?

I thought we don't want a great firewall like China because you know "freedom", yet we are running down this path.

The US and Europe are not adversaries but partners.

They only part in which they are partners is the common enemies. However when it comes to economic benefits or anything not related to the enemies they will stab each other in the back to serve their own interests. From trade embargos/tarifs to spying on each other.

I disagree and think that's a bleak and depressing assertion that shows your bias.

Your perception is contrary to history, which has shown multiple trade wars against the US and EU, as well as repeated scandals with the US spying on EU officials and even invading EU member state territory against their consent.

Europe is a vassal of Global American Empire (GAE)

That's insulting and disrespectful to Europe.

I don't think so.

When I go to a bank here in Switzerland as a Swiss and ask to open a bank account I am asked if I have an US Citizenship. I am not asked if I have a Russian or Chinese or any other Citizenship. Why is this? Because the US has forced regulations down Switzerland throat with threats of preventing Swiss banks from using the USD.

In many other European countries there are US soldiers stationed. How many French or British military bases are there in the US?

Privacy alone is not enough. How would you ensure the recommendations are not pro-CCP?

Imagine if TikTok were owned by Russia and videos that are pro Ukraine being throttled.

Given China's history of hacking Gmail accounts of folks in the US, this is probable.

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2010/jan/12/google-ch...

Yes, I’m sure the CCP is going to adhere to US privacy laws.

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