[827a]

Eh: We've seen it before. Its powerful, but its in the same class of power as social media feed algorithms, especially highly weaponized variants like TikTok. Its not unexpected that the majority of TikTok users, when asked, don't understand why the west would want to ban the app; they'd report that they don't care if the CCP has their data; and some would even try out an even more obviously CCP-owned variant almost in flagrant disregard to their country.

Its simple brainwashing. Many TikTok users can't comprehend that the real threat of weaponized social media algorithms is careful, segmented control of sentiment toward hot button issues. Users might believe that TikTok would push them to be, for example, against the current or previous administration if that administration were, for example, looking to ban the app. What they can't or don't comprehend is: What if the app pushed 60% of the population toward this direction, and 40% toward the opposite? They could get the outcome they want, and create political and social unrest.

There's a police killing of a black man in an inner city. The algorithm knows where you live. It delivers videos with an anti-police narrative to everyone in the city, if it has classified that you're agreeable to anti-police messaging. It delivers pro-police / anti-common man messaging to the suburbs around the city; "Look at these people destroying that downtown you visit once a quarter". Inciting chaos. Why? Because Chaos is a ladder; it is, itself, a goal of our enemies.