Posted on Mar 23, 2023
Rep. Jamaal Bowman launches defense of TikTok as calls to ban app grow
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So as a cybersecurity expert for about 28 years, this is a personal issue to me. What's more is I have been speaking out about TikTok from a professional standpoint since 2015. It has malware implications, intelligence/information gathering implications, and several agencies from our intelligence communities have confirmed this. TikTok themselves have even admitted to specific examples of Chinese government use for gathering information on certain individuals.
Rep Bowman, despite a significant bipartisan concern over this app, is now the face within our government defending it. I'd like to know who agrees with him. Let's break down what he says;
“Republicans ain't got no swag. That's why they want to ban TikTok,” Bowman said, explaining that he was using the popular term to reference “engaging young people in the Democratic process.”
So, it's about appearing cool? Not setting the example, and warning your constituents of the dangers of the app?
Then you have the Gov of Michigan;
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan, also a Democrat, defended TikTok in a television interview in February.
“We use TikTok on one device that has nothing else on it,” she told Jake Tapper of CNN. “It is a communication tool. We don’t do it because it’s fun, although some people think what I put out there can be fun on occasion. My kids disagree.”
So let me get this straight... She recognizes the danger by noting they only have it on a single device with nothing else on it, but still has no problem producing content for those who do not take those precautions?
Both the Rep and Gov are absolutely wrong, they don't understand the technology and the Chinese access to it, they ignore the long-range repercussions to kids using it today, and they are failing to set an example. Instead, they use the issue to make more claims of racism and they continue to fail to hold the Chinese government accountable.
Their defense of the tool, to engage with the youth and voters that use it, is like saying I think I'll go to the dark web to engage with more voters. While they're at it, maybe head over to a KKK rally too. Whatever it takes right?
Rep Bowman, despite a significant bipartisan concern over this app, is now the face within our government defending it. I'd like to know who agrees with him. Let's break down what he says;
“Republicans ain't got no swag. That's why they want to ban TikTok,” Bowman said, explaining that he was using the popular term to reference “engaging young people in the Democratic process.”
So, it's about appearing cool? Not setting the example, and warning your constituents of the dangers of the app?
Then you have the Gov of Michigan;
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan, also a Democrat, defended TikTok in a television interview in February.
“We use TikTok on one device that has nothing else on it,” she told Jake Tapper of CNN. “It is a communication tool. We don’t do it because it’s fun, although some people think what I put out there can be fun on occasion. My kids disagree.”
So let me get this straight... She recognizes the danger by noting they only have it on a single device with nothing else on it, but still has no problem producing content for those who do not take those precautions?
Both the Rep and Gov are absolutely wrong, they don't understand the technology and the Chinese access to it, they ignore the long-range repercussions to kids using it today, and they are failing to set an example. Instead, they use the issue to make more claims of racism and they continue to fail to hold the Chinese government accountable.
Their defense of the tool, to engage with the youth and voters that use it, is like saying I think I'll go to the dark web to engage with more voters. While they're at it, maybe head over to a KKK rally too. Whatever it takes right?
Rep. Jamaal Bowman launches defense of TikTok as calls to ban app grow
Posted from news.yahoo.com
Democrats
Cyber
Security
Information Technology
Social Media
Posted 2 y ago
Responses: 6
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China said it opposed any forced sale of short-form video app TikTok following reports that Washington was considering forcing Chinese technology company ByteDance to divest from the app or banning TikTok in the United States, The New York Times reported on March 23. China's Commerce Ministry said any sale of or divestiture from TikTok would require approval by the Chinese government because it would involve exporting technology. Why does this matter? Because China's comments suggest that Beijing would block any U.S.-ordered sale of TikTok, which may reinforce U.S. concern that China wants to use TikTok's data for nefarious purposes.
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Maj Kevin "Mac" McLaughlin
I wouldn't call it forced. Pressured maybe, but more like a "either you sell, or we continue down the trend of banning it." While I realize blocking it nation-wide would be highly unpopular and incur political impacts, I still think we need to head in that direction. help make the app irrelevant and unpopular. But this doesn't happen when we have politicians playing stupid games, setting bad examples, enabling the use of the tool, and ultimately failing to denounce the Chinese government's policies on technology in their nation. It also doesn't help when similar apps owned by US companies play stupid games by building perceptions of collusion with politicians and government officials.
These politicians need to get on board, denounce the Chinese government, set the example by not using the app/encourage all Americans to do the same, and support government bans within all local, state, and federal government systems. Furthermore, extend this ban to cleared defense contracting companies who create sensitive government products and services.
These politicians need to get on board, denounce the Chinese government, set the example by not using the app/encourage all Americans to do the same, and support government bans within all local, state, and federal government systems. Furthermore, extend this ban to cleared defense contracting companies who create sensitive government products and services.
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1stSgt Nelson Kerr
Maj Kevin "Mac" McLaughlin - The problem is that many of itds competitors have dangerous ties too, The Saudi's are a MAJOR investor in TikTok and Facebook And Instagram have some shady connections and practices also, If someone could write something better it would be a great way to make a few billion quickly,but so far the attempts form Alphabet and The other biggies have failed.
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Maj Kevin "Mac" McLaughlin
Trying to associate TikTok with the other apps fails to understand the problem. The data stored by TikTok is accessible by the Chinese government, without knowledge or consent by the users. Furthermore and unlike the other apps, TikTok has been reverse engineered and experts have confirmed it has “features” consistent with hacker tools, with no justifiable need or use associated with the app. Installing it essentially gives the ability to compromise you device, information on the device (not just TikTok information), on the network it rises on. It’s what I would call a remote access tool (RAT) in my business.
This is not about exposing the videos you watch or make, or the PII you include in your profile. It goes far beyond that.
This is not about exposing the videos you watch or make, or the PII you include in your profile. It goes far beyond that.
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He does not want to piss off the many tens millions of voters whom this will piss off, at least until they find some evidence not just suspicions. It is a possible/ threat but there's no evidence and approximately 100 Million US users. Gen Z has proven that they will vote if pissed off, I hope they find some evidence soon
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Maj Kevin "Mac" McLaughlin
Evidence? It's been reversed engineered already, they've admitted to the Chinese having used it to collect on individuals in the past, we are well aware of the Chinese laws with regards to technology and their requirement to have access to it, and we are highly aware of China's history and intent to collect intelligence on their enemies (i.e. the US). So, what you're saying is capitulate to the whims and ignorance of GenZ instead of recognizing the problem and actually making a public service denouncement of the application. There are other options which do not pose the following "features" discovered through the reverse engineering assessment:
- Enumeration of phone hardware (cpu type, number of course, hardware ids, screen dimensions, dpi, memory usage, disk space, etc)
- Enumeration of other apps you have installed (I've even seen some I've deleted show up in their analytics payload - maybe using as cached value?)
- Enumeration of fverything network-related (ip, local ip, router mac, your mac, wifi access point name)
- Enumerations of whether or not you're rooted/jailbroken
- Some variants of the app had GPS pinging enabled at the time, roughly once every 30 seconds - this is enabled by default if you ever location-tag a post IIRC
- They set up a local proxy server on your device for "transcoding media", but that can be abused very easily as it has zero authentication
- Logging activity is configured remotely, which makes reverse engineering and trying to determine what ByteDance is actually up to increasingly difficult
- Reverse engineering other popular social media apps like Facebook, Instagram and Twitter didn't find nearly as much data collection going on -- there was absolutely no comparison.
Don't want to piss off the GenZs... Wow! How is this a good example of leadership and making hard decisions?
- Enumeration of phone hardware (cpu type, number of course, hardware ids, screen dimensions, dpi, memory usage, disk space, etc)
- Enumeration of other apps you have installed (I've even seen some I've deleted show up in their analytics payload - maybe using as cached value?)
- Enumeration of fverything network-related (ip, local ip, router mac, your mac, wifi access point name)
- Enumerations of whether or not you're rooted/jailbroken
- Some variants of the app had GPS pinging enabled at the time, roughly once every 30 seconds - this is enabled by default if you ever location-tag a post IIRC
- They set up a local proxy server on your device for "transcoding media", but that can be abused very easily as it has zero authentication
- Logging activity is configured remotely, which makes reverse engineering and trying to determine what ByteDance is actually up to increasingly difficult
- Reverse engineering other popular social media apps like Facebook, Instagram and Twitter didn't find nearly as much data collection going on -- there was absolutely no comparison.
Don't want to piss off the GenZs... Wow! How is this a good example of leadership and making hard decisions?
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Excellent post. Thank You for sharing this Major. This is one reason I never used TikTok. I think thst it should be banned in America.
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Maj Kevin "Mac" McLaughlin
Banning it outright will likely not happen unless enough politicians, businesses, and people speak out against it. Cancel it if you will. When fewer people choose to use it, those who make businesses as influencers will move on to other choices.
I get there is a balance that must be taken in pissing of those who love the app and believe their information does not matter. They are in effect collectively enabling TikTok to retain its popularity. Those that defend the app and make claims such as "we don't want to piss people off" or "this is racist" or those that simply believe this is a left vs right issue, are not helping either.
In my household the app is banned, my kids are aware it is not to be used or downloaded on any of their devices, and they are aware it is essentially a virus.
I get there is a balance that must be taken in pissing of those who love the app and believe their information does not matter. They are in effect collectively enabling TikTok to retain its popularity. Those that defend the app and make claims such as "we don't want to piss people off" or "this is racist" or those that simply believe this is a left vs right issue, are not helping either.
In my household the app is banned, my kids are aware it is not to be used or downloaded on any of their devices, and they are aware it is essentially a virus.
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