[talldayo]

> then we should immediately stop acting as if we are more “free” or democratic than China.

This is a histrionic response. America can still be more free and democratic than China while also enforcing a ban on their businesses.

[Cyph0n]

Blanket censorship of this kind is not the hallmark of a healthy democracy.

This ban is the definition of a slippery slope - this ban may be in your interests, but eventually one will not. What then?

[talldayo]

This isn't blanket censorship, period. Every single user that currently voices their stance, values or opinions can continue to do the exact same thing on any other platform they choose. Just not TikTok, because they are a business owned by an adversarial government that deliberately uses their soapbox to manipulate democratic audiences: https://kyivinsider.com/russia-and-china-just-rigged-romania...

Also don't forget - TikTok has remediation options where they continue to operate in America as an American business instead. They are the ones that refused that and chose censorship. America just forced the choice between eating the cake and having it.

Edit: Correct, it is not. The part that is censorship on China's behalf is the enforcement of the Great Firewall and enaction of laws prohibiting citizens from owning or consuming foreign news or entertainment. China's ban on foreign apps could just as well be explained by a desire for better domestic software markets - the same cannot be said for the Firewall.

Edit 2: Yes, secession would settle this. China has proven that they cannot be trusted to disseminate information through a state-owned apparatus. If the owner continues to be a government entity, then continuing to let them do "business" is like letting the Trojans wheel in their horse so the citizens can marvel at it.

[Cyph0n]

By the same token, the Chinese ban on US apps is not censorship, correct?

So if you accept to cede control we will leave you alone. Blackmail, in other words, exactly like China does it.

[baq]

Feel free to record a 30s video on the topic of Tiananmen Square and post it on X, Facebook and Chinese TikTok. Report back with results in 24h. In the conclusions section, point out the difference between censorship and moderation.

[Cyph0n]

How about you record a 30s clip of atrocities committed by the IDF in Gaza and watch how quickly it will be “moderated” into oblivion.

[themacguffinman]

Here's a graphic one (it has a sensitive content warning):

https://www.instagram.com/ajplus/reel/C0SHLYlSynD/

Some others that aren't graphic:

https://www.instagram.com/middleeasteye/reel/C6RA3X0v1-y/

https://www.instagram.com/middleeastmonitor/reel/C4qXD7nvCLV...

https://www.instagram.com/katiecouric/p/CyW65klxgjA/

I'm not very familiar with Instagram, you'll have to tell me if those posts have been moderated to oblivion.

[talldayo]

You seem to be unable to reconcile that China can use a platform with some positive aspects for ill. I abhor Israel's actions and the role of their extremist sects in rejecting international oversight. But I also abhor China for using prisoners, slaves and North Korean indentures to harvest Xinxiang cotton. These topics won't be given a fair shake on TikTok because China's focus is on which destabilizes America fastest, not which is the most popular among bleeding-heart liberals. Of course they selectively provide moderation support for offensive topics that makes America look bad - do the same thing for China or Bytedance and the double standard rears it's ugly head. It was never about free speech, just creating a cycle of dependency on China for news and opinions.

On this basis alone, American consumer protections should have banned TikTok from the start. There is no tangible outcome where state-owned social media is given a holistic directive, especially not when China is the owner. I pity you for not keeping up with modern geopolitical tensions, but this is just the beginning of the "censorship" if you're reliant on China to voice your opinion. They had their chance to demonstrate detente, but they chose to fight instead.

[baq]

see also: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whataboutism