[saas_sam]

Every tech company executive in the USA is not required to operate as an agent for one political party by threat of being disappeared. Our entire internet is not locked down to prevent political dissidents from sharing their views. Our government doesn't pay to flood our social media networks with astroturfing to create the illusion of popular support for its policies. These things add a more serious tone to the conversation, don'tcha think?

[Ekaros]

No, but they intelligence agencies do the same stuff. And private hidden funders of politicians do the astroturfing... I don't really see much difference if it done by government or people who pay the politicians running the government.

[ketzo]

I think it's hugely disingenuous, to the point of bad faith, to pretend there's not a massive difference between the internet in the U.S. and in China.

[wbsss4412]

There’s a massive difference in the internet itself, but the topic of discussion here is data collection, which isn’t really a massive difference.

[netcan]

Exactly. This isn't a general comparison of china to the US. It's a specific comparison of how bad data collection practices and the only (IMO) sane conclusion is that it's all quite terrible. One is not disconnected to the other either. The reason tiktok can collect all this data is precedents and norms established by google and FB.

[xinniethepooh]

Politicians are voted in by the people, and giving money to politicians to advance an initiative isn't guaranteed.

You don't really see much difference? Democratically elected politicians versus central party that allows no dissent and has complete control over information and actions of its citizens to the point of genocidal assimilation.

[cvlasdkv]

> Democratically elected politicians versus central party that allows no dissent and has complete control over information and actions of its citizens to the point of genocidal assimilation.

You're saying the Chinese government is so powerful and competent that they have complete control over information and actions of over one BILLION people? Wild claims like this one should be substantiated.

Although your name is wildly sinophobic and racist so I doubt there is any evidence you can pull up.

[wbsss4412]

> Our government doesn't pay to flood our social media networks with astroturfing to create the illusion of popular support for its policies.

How would we know if that was or was not happening, either here or, more aptly (for the analogy to be accurate), abroad?

[angio]

US-based tech companies where collaborating with the NSA on their illegal mass surveillance programmes.

[hammock]

Give it a few years.