this post was submitted on 07 Oct 2023
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[–] e_mc2@feddit.nl 129 points 1 year ago (3 children)

I seriously doubt this. You have to be very conscious to fully understand what it is these large platforms actually do "behind the scenes". Unfortunately the vast majority of people imo is either completely oblivious or even worse, doesn't care. I mean look at the immense success of tiktok. Numerous warnings that it's nothing less than straight-up spyware from China, yet half the world happily continues to use it.

[–] Shialac@lemmy.world 52 points 1 year ago (2 children)

eh, most other social media sites have been nothing else but spyware from the US, some of them for over a decade

[–] bitsplease@lemmy.ml 13 points 1 year ago (1 children)

If anything, that just reenforces his point though

[–] Shialac@lemmy.world 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

kinda, but I always thought it was extremely hypocritical of all the people that are "china bad, tiktok bad uhhh spyware" but use instagram and google

[–] bitsplease@lemmy.ml 5 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Both types are bad and should be avoided, but I think there is a difference between a private US company invading your privacy, and literal CCP sponsored Spyware, particularly when you're a member of a nation that CCP is actively targeting for espionage and surveillance (not that the US isn't doing likewise, to still the crys of whataboutism)

[–] crab@lemm.ee -2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

The chance I'll ever go to China is very small, but the chance I'll go to the US is pretty high. Surely the US spying on me is the only one to care about?

[–] bitsplease@lemmy.ml 2 points 1 year ago

Depends on your personal priorities, I'm certainly not trying to tell you what to care about, I was just elaborating on why people might care more about tik toks spying than Metas. Personally, you won't find either on my phone

[–] kava@lemmy.world -2 points 1 year ago

I would much rather some government on the other side of the planet know my intimate details rather than the government at home who can actually act on that information

They know everything about you.

[–] e_mc2@feddit.nl 11 points 1 year ago
[–] IronpigsWizard@lemmy.world 19 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (2 children)

I have a friend that uses Tiktok. He has never posted a video on there, just watches crap.

He went to bed one night in August and mentioned that overnight, as he slept, the Tiktok app sent/received 8.6 gbs of data as he slept, the app was closed, screen locked.

I can only imagine what the Tiktok app does if you have a son/daughter with Tiktok on their phone (whether you know or not) and work for a state/federal government.

Very unsettling.

[–] FraidyBear@lemmy.world 12 points 1 year ago

Engineering degrees don't always equal smarts, sometimes it's just hard work and a talent in math. I worked with a guy who was graduating with a degree in structural engineering and the guy legitimately thought that vaccines caused autism and that the moon landing was faked. I asked him to let me know what bridges he would be working on around the city so I could be sure to avoid them, then I had to have a talk with HR about bullying in the work place lol

[–] RobotToaster@mander.xyz 8 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I wonder if it's just preloading videos or something?

It doesn't take that much data to spy on someone, unless they're sending uncompressed recordings of your friend snoring or something.

[–] IronpigsWizard@lemmy.world 3 points 1 year ago

Hmm, your statement just made me ponder sort of the opposite...

I wonder if keeps any plans/videos on his phone of sites he has/is worked/working at.

[–] foggy@lemmy.world 13 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I mean the counter I hear is valid, "and Facebook is spyware from the US."

[–] bionicjoey@lemmy.ca 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Facebook is spyware from a company based in the US. But because of China's economic structure TikTok is a tool of the CCP itself.

[–] foggy@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Did you forget about Cambridge analytica?