This comment doesn't seem to understand what the parent was saying or engage with their argument at all?

1. No it's not fine that American companies are threats to privacy and so on, and it should be dealt with.

2. However TikTok is a special case in that in addition to the above, it presents a national security risk (to the Americans), so it's reasonable to treat it differently and with more urgency.

> it presents a national security risk (to the Americans)

In what way. Surely there is a shutdown button to press if TikTok go rouge.

Dissidents should rather use the social networks the gov. or establishment wants to ban than the one they control (e.g. FB).

> In what way.

There's some discussion about this in the article.

> Surely there is a shutdown button to press if TikTok go rouge.

I'm not entirely sure what you mean by "going rogue". The idea is that the company is already closely connected to the Chinese government. Are you saying the Americans should wait until they have undeniable proof that the data is being used for the political purposes of the CCP? Would they even be able to find that out (and if they did, would they be able to tell the world how?)?

> Dissidents should rather use the social networks the gov. or establishment wants to ban than the one they control (e.g. FB).

That makes some sense, sure, but we're not talking about security from the perspective of dissidents, we're talking about national security from the viewpoint of the government and the mainstream population, which is the one you'd expect the FCC to act according to.

I would assume the fear is the PRC is gaining troves of data on individuals interests including politically divisive issues. This insight could lead to undue influence on the American population during elections or times of war.

A shutdown button to remove the reams of data already gathered?

No, it's not fine, and I said as much.

I think it'd be fair (maybe not fine) if China were to allow, say, Facebook to operate in China if Tiktok can operate in the U.S.

They can - if they follow Chinese laws. Which Facebook is unwilling to do.

In that case I have no problem with the U.S. banning tiktok until China relaxes its laws.

Trying to legislate other countries? You are aware that sword cuts both ways, right?

Why do you have such a hard on for China or tiktok? As it is, the sword only cuts one-way. A Chinese social media company gets unfiltered access to western markets and populace but China wont allow the same in return. That's not a fair deal; so I say ban tiktok until China decides western social media companies can operate inside China with the same level of freedom that tiktok operates outside China.

The U.S. can ban Tiktok within its own borders (for whatever reason) without making any attempt to legislate the rules for Tiktok in any other country.

Other countries are already trying to control US companies. Thats already the situation.

So there is no need for you to bring it up, as a possibility, when it is already happening.

It's not fine. It is in our interests. This is about realpolitik, not ethics.

Literally the opposite of what the parent said.