Liberty Justice Center reposted this
Free Speech. It’s the FIRST Amendment for a reason. Monday we will argue against the Biden Administration's forced sale and ban of TikTok—not because we think there aren’t enough cat videos in the world, but because the American people should be able to decide that for themselves. And before you flood the comments with national security claims consider this: if it is such a “threat” why didn’t the ban/sale take immediate effect? And why aren’t other Chinese apps included? And why is 25% of the governments briefs redacted—even from the plaintiff's legal team? While the Justice Department now says the ban is necessary because China might access TikTok’s databases of information about American users, it’s difficult to take the argument seriously when even the Office of the Director of National Intelligence has observed that China can readily access the same kinds of information in other ways, and when Congress could address data-collection concerns more effectively with a privacy law that limited what TikTok and other platforms can collect. Read one of our amicus supporters Jameel Jaffer thoughtful discussion of why this is one of the most important cases of the year:
Kevin Reid
2d
I am definitely concerned about infringements on free speech in the 21st Century, but freedom of speech is about protecting content and ideas, not about protecting a foreign company that allegedly STEALS your personal information. There are plenty of safer sites for people to post on. Maybe you are right about a privacy law limiting data collection being enough (assuming it could be enforced), but the government must do something to protect our personal information. Besides, there are much bigger threats to free speech in our country today.
Boy, did the rest of the world have the US in a fishbowl: - Give US citizens a profile, mic & vanity metrics. - They will destroy themselves. I'd like to answer your questions Sara Albrecht , CFA.: 1. I was a social media manager for 9 years. 2. I quit because I witnessed the ethics of these companies. They do not care about you. Plain and simple. A. If it is such a “threat” why didn’t the ban/sale take immediate effect? - Largely because we are always trying to protect people's feelings in the USA. So, the US government gave Bytedance in China 270 days to divest itself from the US Tiktok. Every country knows we are like this. B. And why aren’t other Chinese apps included? - OMG! Are you kidding? Because "OTHER" Chinese apps are not consumed by 170 million people, most of them between ages 18-34. And there are 300 million people in the US. Btw...the government is going after Temu & Shein. C. And why is 25% of the governments briefs redacted—even from the plaintiff's legal team? - I am sure you will find out soon enough. When you get an answer, please share. With all due respect, if you can't see how "power" and "money" are the initiatives of Tiktok, you are being wildly naive.
Michael Zung
2d
Smart commentary Sara Albrecht , CFA vs a lot of others that I read here. There also needs to be public discourse on how this affects 100s of small businesses that have made a living off TikTok. The other issue at hand is if the US bans TikTok for purely political points (assuming the argument that data really isn't a concern), then China could ban Apple and Tesla for the same reasons. US has the CLOUD law which allows the govt to access any data from any US company for national security reasons -- effectively the same law the Chinese govt has that US lawmakers are refering to with the ban.
Ben B.
2d
if its a national security threat why havent they prevented Facebook (adbook) and instagram (insta ads) from accessing the same info? none of these companies should be able to access the level of data they are currently accessing, regardless of where they are in the world or who they are owned by! a foreign nation is making money off of Americans and someones palms didnt get greased or backhanders that didnt take place so someone is having a tantrum. The conversation needs to take place at a national and international level with ALL social media platforms, and a privacy act with teeth and repercussions like GDPR needs to take place.
Taylor Kitz
2d
"The Chinese government can get our data in other ways so we shouldn't try to stop one of the easiest ways for them to manipulate and spy on Americans" is not the top notch take you think it is
David Hunt
1d
Trump proposed this, and years later Congress moved it forward. Why call this a Biden administration ban? Why call it a ban at all? The Chinese owners could sell it with terms giving the new owners access to the technology pending transfer of a license. Or negotiate a deal with the next administration. Instead, they are digging in their heals, insisting that as Chinese citizens they have rights under the US Constitution. Americans can easily find an alternative app to exercise First Amendment rights. They used to think Facebook was indispensable, X has proved them wrong.
Luke Crowhurst
13h
The TikTok ban is admittedly poorly conceived but we do need greater regulatory oversight of social media companies. It should have always been blanket legislation which curtails social media company's power and safeguards privacy. Law's are not meant to target individual businesses, they are meant to set industry and societal standards.
Sara Albrecht , CFA When I was a kid, Sesame Street taught me an important lesson with the song 'One of These Things Is Not Like the Other.' Meta (Facebook/Instagram), Google (Alphabet), X (formerly Twitter), LinkedIn (Microsoft), and Snapchat all contribute significantly to political campaigns, whereas TikTok (ByteDance) does not. Seems freedom isn't always free 🤐
GIS Technician at County of unknown
2dWe talk a lot about free speech and I am all for it, but have we considered free thinking? So much content shoved into our kids mostly, and no opportunity to process, simply another something thrown out. Our children don't know how to think, they certainly aren't getting anything from the schools, just memorization. When do we teach them to think, to puzzle, to ask questions, to not accept everything fed them as gospel? I am all for free speech, I'm not sure I'm loving the way it's presented.