• US Regulator wants TikTok removed

    From Mike Powell@1:2320/105 to All on Thursday, June 30, 2022 15:44:58
    https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/tiktok-fcc-1.6505269

    U.S. communications regulator wants TikTok removed from app stores over spying concerns

    "TikTok is not what it appears to be on the surface. It is not just an app for sharing funny videos or meme. That's the sheep's clothing," (FCC commissioner Brendan) Carr said in the letter. "At its core, TikTok functions as a sophisticated surveillance tool that harvests extensive amounts of personal and sensitive data."

    "It is clear that TikTok poses an unacceptable national security risk due to its extensive data harvesting being combined with Beijing's apparently unchecked access to that sensitive data."

    #
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  • From Lee Lofaso@2:203/2 to Mike Powell on Friday, July 01, 2022 06:56:16
    Hello Mike,

    U.S. communications regulator wants TikTok removed from app stores over spying concerns

    The FCC chairman asked Apple and Google to remove the TikTok app
    from their stores, as the data it collects are used by the Chinese
    government for nefarious purposes.

    Hopefully, both Apple and Google will honor that request, as it is
    in the best interest of all Americans.

    For Life,
    Lee

    --
    Probably the best beer in the world

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  • From Aaron Thomas@1:275/99 to Lee Lofaso on Friday, July 01, 2022 13:38:35
    The FCC chairman asked Apple and Google to remove the TikTok app
    from their stores, as the data it collects are used by the Chinese government for nefarious purposes.

    Hopefully, both Apple and Google will honor that request, as it is
    in the best interest of all Americans.

    Google will only remove an app if it's in the best interest of all leftists.

    As a leftist, are you ok with China spying on you while you're watching videos of people peeing on electric fences?

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  • From Lee Lofaso@2:203/2 to Aaron Thomas on Saturday, July 02, 2022 14:02:19
    Hello Aaron,

    The FCC chairman asked Apple and Google to remove the TikTok app
    from their stores, as the data it collects are used by the Chinese
    government for nefarious purposes.

    Hopefully, both Apple and Google will honor that request, as it is
    in the best interest of all Americans.

    Google will only remove an app if it's in the best interest of all leftists.

    Both Apple and Google should remove an app if it's in the best interest
    of *all* Americans, regardless of political philosophy or ideology.

    As a leftist, are you ok with China spying on you while you're watching videos of people peeing on electric fences?

    I cannot speak as a leftist, but can as an American patriot.

    As for wathcing videos of people peeing on electric fences, that
    is something I have never been into. Please tell what that is like.

    For Life,
    Lee

    --
    As Good As It Looks

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  • From Aaron Thomas@1:275/99 to Lee Lofaso on Saturday, July 02, 2022 13:09:45
    Google will only remove an app if it's in the best interest of all leftists.

    Both Apple and Google should remove an app if it's in the best interest
    of *all* Americans, regardless of political philosophy or ideology.

    Google favors leftism in the app industry; they have a strong desire to
    control who has the ability to speak to the masses. They're too smart to let some anti-leftism organization interfere with their leftist goals.

    Shouldn't I have a right to be part of a rightist organization?

    As for wathcing videos of people peeing on electric fences, that
    is something I have never been into. Please tell what that is like.

    Ha! Plus they do other dumb stuff. It's awful. Why should our kids be tempted to do dangerous stuff?

    This is where Google has an opportunity to help America's kids by banning TikTok. I would commend them for it. But leftists stick together on core leftist issues, and only conservatives would would benefit from a ban of TikTok, so I don't see it happening. Google will "talk tough" with TikTok, at best, I predict.

    --- Mystic BBS v1.12 A46 2020/08/26 (Linux/64)
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  • From Lee Lofaso@2:203/2 to Aaron Thomas on Sunday, July 03, 2022 14:02:53
    Hello Aaron,

    Google will only remove an app if it's in the best interest of all
    leftists.

    Both Apple and Google should remove an app if it's in the best interest
    of *all* Americans, regardless of political philosophy or ideology.

    Google favors leftism in the app industry; they have a strong desire to control who has the ability to speak to the masses. They're too smart to let
    some anti-leftism organization interfere with their leftist goals.

    What about Apple? Are you saying the FCC chairman should give
    Apple a pass? Seems to me he cares not a wit if either Apple or
    Google is "leftist" or "rightist" or any other kind of "-ist".

    Shouldn't I have a right to be part of a rightist organization?

    I dunno. You'll have to ask the FCC chairman about that.

    As for wathcing videos of people peeing on electric fences, that
    is something I have never been into. Please tell what that is like.

    Ha! Plus they do other dumb stuff. It's awful. Why should our kids be tempted to do dangerous stuff?

    Watching videos on YouTube of people peeing on electric fences has
    to be very boring. Much more fun to actually do it. You should give
    it a try. And fry some frogs while at it.

    This is where Google has an opportunity to help America's kids by banning TikTok. I would commend them for it. But leftists stick together on core leftist issues, and only conservatives would would benefit from a ban of TikTok, so I don't see it happening. Google will "talk tough" with TikTok, at
    best, I predict.

    Talk is cheap. The FCC chairman means the business. Both Apple and
    Google have their heads on the block. Their collective TikTok heads
    will be chopped off if they do not comply with his request ...

    For Life,
    Lee

    --
    More Doctors Smoke Camels than Any Other Cigarette

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    * Origin: news://eljaco.se:4119 (2:203/2)
  • From Aaron Thomas@1:275/99 to Lee Lofaso on Sunday, July 03, 2022 15:10:08
    What about Apple? Are you saying the FCC chairman should give
    Apple a pass? Seems to me he cares not a wit if either Apple or
    Google is "leftist" or "rightist" or any other kind of "-ist".

    The FCC chairman isn't powerful enough to push Google and Apple around. She
    can send letters to them, but if they refuse to comply then what? Google and Apple are not going anywhere despite any threat to homeland security. The border is a threat to homeland security - do you see the border going anywhere?

    Talk is cheap. The FCC chairman means the business. Both Apple and
    Google have their heads on the block. Their collective TikTok heads
    will be chopped off if they do not comply with his request ...

    There used to be a time when phrases like "Chinese espionage" sounded
    alarming. Not anymore. Now we bend over frontwards for China. Let's protect
    the espionage, not the American people. (Refer to page 1 of your agenda.)

    --- Mystic BBS v1.12 A46 2020/08/26 (Linux/64)
    * Origin: CompuBBS | Ashburn VA | cfbbs.scinet-ftn.org (1:275/99)
  • From Lee Lofaso@2:203/2 to Aaron Thomas on Tuesday, July 05, 2022 04:31:26
    Hello Aaron,

    What about Apple? Are you saying the FCC chairman should give
    Apple a pass? Seems to me he cares not a wit if either Apple or
    Google is "leftist" or "rightist" or any other kind of "-ist".

    The FCC chairman isn't powerful enough to push Google and Apple around.

    Are you saying, or suggesting, that Google and Apple are lackeys
    for Communist China? Nothing should be done to discourage buying or
    using products or using services provided by them?

    In a way you are correct, in that the FCC chairman does not have
    the authority to force Google and/or Apple to remove the TikTok app
    from their stores. But he can make it extremely uncomfortable for
    them to want to keep it available.

    [..]

    Talk is cheap. The FCC chairman means the business. Both Apple and
    Google have their heads on the block. Their collective TikTok heads
    will be chopped off if they do not comply with his request ...

    There used to be a time when phrases like "Chinese espionage" sounded alarming. Not anymore. Now we bend over frontwards for China. Let's protect
    the espionage, not the American people. (Refer to page 1 of your agenda.)

    Jackie Chan speaks fluent Chinese. But then, he is Chinese.
    His American sidekick in the movies tried to learn how to speak
    Chinese. He should have stayed in Harlem.

    For Life,
    Lee

    --
    My body, my choice! / Her body, her choice!

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  • From Aaron Thomas@1:275/99 to Lee Lofaso on Tuesday, July 05, 2022 03:56:51
    The FCC chairman isn't powerful enough to push Google and Apple aroun

    Are you saying, or suggesting, that Google and Apple are lackeys
    for Communist China? Nothing should be done to discourage buying or
    using products or using services provided by them?

    TikTok is the lackey for China (allegedly.) TikTok doesn't sell anything, but
    I think they make their money from ads. I'd like to see proof that TikTok is spying for China before anything is done to hurt their business. It wouldn't
    be fair to take action after only saying "They're doing espionage for China."

    Besides, what if the allegation is true? Do we care what China does? We don't care what they do with viruses at Wuhan University, so why do we care about a little spying on some idiots with cellphones?

    In a way you are correct, in that the FCC chairman does not have
    the authority to force Google and/or Apple to remove the TikTok app
    from their stores. But he can make it extremely uncomfortable for
    them to want to keep it available.

    I made a Google app before. They have a lot of rules. They have a human review the app before it's published to make sure it complies. If it complies, it's welcomed to Google Play. At that point, the app can become a key component to somebody's business (TikTok) and Google won't remove it unless you try to release a new update with features that make the app non-compliant.

    So if TikTok has been a Chinese spying mechanism this whole time, then being a Chinese spying mechanism is not against Google's rules. (I've reviewed their app policies before but I don't recall anything about foreign espionage.)

    --- Mystic BBS v1.12 A46 2020/08/26 (Linux/64)
    * Origin: CompuBBS | Ashburn VA | cfbbs.scinet-ftn.org (1:275/99)
  • From Lee Lofaso@2:203/2 to Aaron Thomas on Tuesday, July 05, 2022 23:12:17
    Hello Aaron,

    The FCC chairman isn't powerful enough to push Google and Apple
    aroun

    Are you saying, or suggesting, that Google and Apple are lackeys
    for Communist China? Nothing should be done to discourage buying or
    using products or using services provided by them?

    TikTok is the lackey for China (allegedly.)

    The FCC chairman went right out and said it, showing reasons why.

    TikTok doesn't sell anything, but I think they make their money from ads.

    The issue was not how TikTok makes money, but the reason why Google
    and Apple should remove the app from their stores.

    I'd like to see proof that TikTok is spying for China before anything is done to hurt their business.

    The FCC chairman has already done that, with a letter to both Google
    and Apple. You can view it online.

    It wouldn't be fair to take action after only saying "They're doing espionage for China."

    The FCC chairman does not have legal authority to act on his own in
    the matter, which is why he is asking Google and Apple to remove the
    app.

    Besides, what if the allegation is true?

    The evidence he presented is pretty damning.

    Do we care what China does?

    We should.

    We don't care what they do with viruses at Wuhan University, so why do we care about a little spying on some idiots with cellphones?

    There are controls at labs around the world that ensure whatever
    that might happen is safely contained at those labs. No viruses are
    sent to universities for study. Not in China or anywhere else.

    When a government uses software embedded in cellphones for spying
    purposes, that is definitely something of major concern. Especially
    if that government is adversarial, or hostile, to us.

    In a way you are correct, in that the FCC chairman does not have
    the authority to force Google and/or Apple to remove the TikTok app
    from their stores. But he can make it extremely uncomfortable for
    them to want to keep it available.

    I made a Google app before. They have a lot of rules.

    We are talking about an app that has been designed for use by
    a government that is not friendly to the USA. The FCC chairman
    is right to request both Google and Apple remove the app from
    their stores, as doing so would protect all Americans and this
    country from harm.

    They have a human review the app before it's published to make sure it complies.

    Not enough. Especially in cases such as the TikTok app.

    If it complies, it's welcomed to Google Play.

    The FCC chairman showed flaws in that method. The app needs to be
    removed.

    At that point, the app can become a key component to somebody's business (TikTok) and Google won't remove it unless you try to
    release a new update with features that make the app non-compliant.

    This was not done. Time to remove the app.

    So if TikTok has been a Chinese spying mechanism this whole time, then being
    a Chinese spying mechanism is not against Google's rules. (I've reviewed their app policies before but I don't recall anything about foreign espionage.)

    This country also has rules. Rules that trump app policies and
    whatever goes for Google rules. It is called national security.
    The FCC chairman can act on those rules anytime he wants.

    For Life,
    Lee

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    Everybody Loves Our Buns

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  • From Aaron Thomas@1:275/99 to Lee Lofaso on Wednesday, July 06, 2022 01:32:20
    I'd like to see proof that TikTok is spying for China before anything done to hurt their business.

    The FCC chairman has already done that, with a letter to both Google
    and Apple. You can view it online.

    Trump banned TikTok for this same reason, but Biden reversed that order. The FCC is asking Google and Apple to go against the wishes of Biden and China.

    The FCC chairman does not have legal authority to act on his own in
    the matter, which is why he is asking Google and Apple to remove the
    app.

    It's cute when kids ask for stuff that is impossible to give to them.

    There are controls at labs around the world that ensure whatever
    that might happen is safely contained at those labs. No viruses are
    sent to universities for study. Not in China or anywhere else.

    Just like there are "controls" on apps to make sure they don't cause any harm to important people like Biden and/or CCP.

    When a government uses software embedded in cellphones for spying purposes, that is definitely something of major concern. Especially
    if that government is adversarial, or hostile, to us.

    Luckily it's none of that, it's just Joe's pals from the CCP. President Xi considers Biden an "old friend." Any friend of Joe's is a friend of ours also.

    We are talking about an app that has been designed for use by
    a government that is not friendly to the USA. The FCC chairman
    is right to request both Google and Apple remove the app from
    their stores, as doing so would protect all Americans and this
    country from harm.

    How does it feel to know that our protection from harm is at the mercy of Google and Apple? Joe (nice guy) put us in this predicament by being "anti-Trump."

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