This detached observer way of looking at the world is mind boggling. There is nothing contradictory about arguing for the good and arguing against the evil. I think this mindset stems from a fundamental uncertainty in our values, and conclude that our values are just as good as any others. It’s simply not true.
No. TikTok is run by a state hostile to the ideals of freedom and our western way of life. That alone is enough of an argument for banning it: because of values are good, and we don’t want their values. If they are not willing to go above and beyond to demonstrate they will do the same, then ban it. They are not entitled to our attention, our children's attention, or any of our other resources.
The idea that US is good and China is evil is absurd. Other Americans do far more to destroy "ideals of freedom and our western way of life" than China does - hell, I'm pretty sure that with the current US polarisation, both sides would say they have more in common with China than with their US opponents - and they'd be right. Take any concept of "freedom" or "way of life" that you care for, and half the US is currently against it. TikTok is a bogeyman that has done nothing to Americans that Americans weren't already doing to themselves.
The US is good-er. There are bad people in the US of course, but this will always be the case and can’t be a reason we restrict ourselves from increasing the good in the world. This argument boils down to “there are bad things and bad people even among us, so we have no moral standing to prevent any more evil”.
Again, no. That fatalistic attitude doesn’t help anyone and is just a suicide pact. We have a responsibility to expand the good in the world. That includes domestically with rooting out our evil, but also includes keeping China out.
Your comment only makes sense since you are an american. The entire premise of your argument completely false a part when you have actually experienced what the "goodness" of america, say in the middle east, means.
No, it makes sense because my values are good and I happen to be American.
This is exactly my point. You’re saying “because the US has done bad things in the past, it has no moral standing to do good in the future”. A lot of bad happened in the Middle East, some parts caused by the US, so that means we can’t ban the evils of China in our country and minimize their harms abroad?
Try this: focus on increasing the good in the world. Don’t be hamstrung by “well the US has done bad things before”. “We can’t do good anymore because we’ve done bad before” is not a valid argument. And no, none of this makes China equally good.
It’s not your job to weigh all the countries of the world on some balance to decide who’s been the most good. That’s that detached observer mindset again, and it does nothing but occupy your mind and sap your agency while bad things continue. Your job is to increase the good in the world. If you don’t care to do so, then get out of the way
We’re not in the world of what ifs and ethical debates.
We are in a world where our strategic enemy has a foothold on our digital lives and will likely use it against us. This is evidence. We should treat our enemies as enemies. China doesn’t consider itself to be in a friendly competition for dominance. Neither should we.
Remind me. Why should the rest of the world put up with Google and Facebook? Free trade for me but not for thee? This hypocrisy is maddening.
Companies need to comply with PI laws. Then there is no need to find excuses to keep approved spyware companies operating depending on where the stockholders live.
Little different when the CCP is ok the board of the company and controls its decisions. Look at what happened to Didi when they did one thing without consent from them. I don’t think you are comparing the same things.
Doesn’t this sound a bit off?