Computers and Software : TikTok ban: "It's a spy balloon into your phone."

TikTok ban: "It's a spy balloon into your phone."

The White House on Monday gave government agencies 30 days to ensure they do not have Chinese-owned app TikTok on federal devices and systems.

In a bid to keep U.S. data safe, all federal agencies must eliminate TikTok from phones and systems and prohibit internet traffic from reaching the company, Office of Management and Budget Director Shalanda Young told agencies in a guidance memorandum seen by Reuters.

The ban, ordered by Congress late last year, follows similar actions from Canada, the EU, Taiwan and more than half of U.S. states.

The device ban — while impacting a tiny portion of TikTok's U.S. user base — adds fuel to calls for an outright ban on the video-sharing app. National security concerns about China surged in recent weeks after a Chinese balloon drifted over the U.S.

ByteDance-owned TikTok has said the concerns are fueled by misinformation and has denied using the app to spy on Americans. The action does not affect the more than 100 million Americans who use TikTok on private or company-owned devices.
"My bill empowers the administration to ban TikTok or any software applications that threaten U.S. national security," Representative Mike McCaul, the committee chair, said. "Anyone with TikTok downloaded on their device has given the (Chinese Communist Party) a backdoor to all their personal information. It’s a spy balloon into your phone."

https://www.reuters.com/technology/white-house-gives-agencies-30-days-impose-federal-device-tiktok-ban-2023-02-27/

Re: TikTok ban: "It's a spy balloon into your phone."

If they ban it for the general public, a lot of young people will be suicidal.

My password is password

Re: TikTok ban: "It's a spy balloon into your phone."

Will TikTok Be Banned From The U.S.? Here's Where It Stands.

Pressure is mounting from Republicans and some Democrats in Congress to pass a national ban on TikTok, the social video app owned by Chinese company ByteDance which has already been banned on federal devices and some college campuses over privacy concerns.
KEY FACTS

TikTok has faced calls for bans from critics who fear China may use the platform to access the data of American users.

Criticisms of the social platform intensified in the fall after reports revealed ByteDance repeatedly accessed U.S. user data and planned to use TikTok to track the location of specific American citizens (including Forbes journalists).

ByteDance previously denied it had used TikTok to “target” journalists or public figures, but after an internal investigation revealed employees tracked journalists covering the company, it fired its chief internal auditor who led the team orchestrating the surveillance.

Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), who sponsored the ban on TikTok on federal devices which was signed into law in December, also introduced broader legislation on January 25 which would ban TikTok on all devices inside the U.S.

Republicans have long called for a ban, claiming TikTok would allow the Chinese government to spy on American citizens — but they’re now joined by a small number of Democrats, including Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet, who urged Apple and Google last week to remove the app from their respective stores.

FBI Director Christopher Wray said TikTok poses "national security concerns" at a House Homeland Security Committee hearing in November.

President Joe Biden approved a ban on TikTok on devices owned by government agencies in December, following a wave of primarily Republican-led states who had passed similar measures.

Since December, a number of schools and university systems have banned TikTok on school-owned devices and on school wifi and have discouraged the use of TikTok on students’ personal devices.

Some lawmakers are trying to go a step further and pass a nationwide ban on TikTok — Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) introduced such a bill in January.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/conormurray/2023/02/07/will-tiktok-be-banned-from-the-us-heres-where-it-stands/

Re: TikTok ban: "It's a spy balloon into your phone."

It should be banned because it's dangerous to the mental health of children. It is consuming their lives.

My password is password

Re: TikTok ban: "It's a spy balloon into your phone."

Kids and teens shouldn't have cell phones or ipads. Computer time should be limited and the computer should be located in a room where parents are present.

My password is password

Re: TikTok ban: "It's a spy balloon into your phone."

Children should be in cages.

My password is password

Re: TikTok ban: "It's a spy balloon into your phone."

This. Where's the parents??

My password is password

Re: TikTok ban: "It's a spy balloon into your phone."

They're on TikTok too.

My password is password

Re: TikTok ban: "It's a spy balloon into your phone."

[Laugh[ Good point!

My password is password

Re: TikTok ban: "It's a spy balloon into your phone."

Typical hypocritical of America where they spy on everyone around the world all the fucking time.

"Please vote to preserve the unique character of Warren…" - Robert Duvall

Re: TikTok ban: "It's a spy balloon into your phone."

The top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee said on Tuesday he opposed a Republican bill that would give President Joe Biden the power to ban Chinese-owned social media app TikTok and other apps.

The committee opened debate on Tuesday on the measure, which Republican committee chair Michael McCaul sponsored to grant the administration new powers to ban the ByteDance-owned app that is used by more than 100 million Americans. The committee delayed a vote on the measure until Wednesday.

"Many Americans do not realize one of the greatest surveillance efforts from (China) has been silently gathering personal data in their pockets," McCaul said, referring to TikTok. "TikTok is a national security threat … It is time to act."

Representative Gregory Meeks said he strongly opposed the legislation, saying it would "damage our allegiances across the globe, bring more companies into China's sphere, destroy jobs here in the United States and undercut core American values of free speech and free enterprise."

Re: TikTok ban: "It's a spy balloon into your phone."

If it is true that it is used to spy, how exactly does it work?
Is there some Chinese person sitting there watching someone watching their video or are they able to tap into their phones once they start watching TT or download their app?
Our Govt. is already telling it's workers to stop watching it on their phones and it seems taking steps like that would be enough to prevent it.
I mean, watching a common person's movements like going grocery shopping, gassing up the car, doing chores, watching Three's Company etc is meaningless.

I think it is more rumor than anything else.
Otherwise how did we find out about it?
Someone spying on them?
LOL

And our own govt. can spy on you if you have a cell phone.
That is how they catch criminals.
By tapping into it since it gives off signals letting Big Bro. know where you are when you have it with you.
Criminals need to learn by now to leave it at home or somewhere else and not on them if they are going to commit a crime.

"Please vote to preserve the unique character of Warren…" - Robert Duvall

Re: TikTok ban: "It's a spy balloon into your phone."

I don't know. It doesn't make much sense, since there are tons of products in the US from China that could get people's data and/or monitor them if they wanted to.

Some smart TVs have cameras in them (facing the people watching TV). Some people don't even know their TVs have cameras in them. Even if they do know, it's probably recording them when they don't realize it.

Re: TikTok ban: "It's a spy balloon into your phone."

I did put a piece of tape over the camera on my computer.

I dunno how watching any of us common folk can be that exciting for them.
"He is masturbating? Again???"

"Please vote to preserve the unique character of Warren…" - Robert Duvall

Re: TikTok ban: "It's a spy balloon into your phone."

And good point of how we have products from China they could use to spy on.
Like Apple electronics.
How come clowngress is not suspecting and going ape over that instead?

"Please vote to preserve the unique character of Warren…" - Robert Duvall

Re: TikTok ban: "It's a spy balloon into your phone."

We're already spied on by our own government, and worse, corporations. Why would I give a shit if the Chinese are?

ᴳᵒ ᶠᵘᶜᵏ ʸᵒᵘʳˢᵉˡᶠ

Re: TikTok ban: "It's a spy balloon into your phone."

Do you cover your device's camera (when you know you won't be using it)?

Re: TikTok ban: "It's a spy balloon into your phone."

Nope.

ᴳᵒ ᶠᵘᶜᵏ ʸᵒᵘʳˢᵉˡᶠ

Re: TikTok ban: "It's a spy balloon into your phone."

Do you ever wonder if that's a two-way mirror in the dressing room and someone's watching you?

Re: TikTok ban: "It's a spy balloon into your phone."

I don't think anyone wants to see that, and if they do, thanks or that's what you get for spying on me.

ᴳᵒ ᶠᵘᶜᵏ ʸᵒᵘʳˢᵉˡᶠ

Re: TikTok ban: "It's a spy balloon into your phone."

Supposedly they sometimes watch to make sure people don't steal.

Re: TikTok ban: "It's a spy balloon into your phone."

It would be so easy to steal in some of these dressing rooms. Like the ones that are always unattended. Target is like that on and off, but JC Penney here is really bad.

ᴳᵒ ᶠᵘᶜᵏ ʸᵒᵘʳˢᵉˡᶠ

Re: TikTok ban: "It's a spy balloon into your phone."

I remember seeing a video a while back, where three women walked into a Kohl's store and just stole a bunch of men's underwear and walked out with it.

Re: TikTok ban: "It's a spy balloon into your phone."

I remember Hot Topic being easy to steal from back in the 00's. They let you go behind the counter where all the spiky and studded belts and studded belts and stuff were. I didn't, but had friends who did.

ᴳᵒ ᶠᵘᶜᵏ ʸᵒᵘʳˢᵉˡᶠ

Re: TikTok ban: "It's a spy balloon into your phone."

I've wondered how much is stolen from stores that have items for sale in displays outside the stores. It seems like people could just take items and walk away.
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