Of course we can. But the hypocrisy shows how the government doesn't actually care about the health of citizens or society. If they did, they would start with regulations on algorithmic feeds as a first principal, then ban companies that don't comply.

And that could include writing the regulations in such a way that ByteDance couldn't possibly comply, because of their ties to China. At least we would clean up our own home too in the process.

To rephrase my question: can you really not tell the difference to democratic health between Americans doing it and foreign adversaries doing it?

For the most part I don't think there is a difference. It seems like once all the common factors of divisiveness and brainrot are removed, the main difference between TikTok and the others is that it would be harder for certain powers in the US government to corral TikTok into toeing the line on State Department foreign policy goals than western companies. Considering the largely homogenous, biased western media coverage of e.g. the lead up to the 2nd Iraq War, Patriot Act, US-Israel policy that has shaped American viewpoints, I don't think it is obvious why having a major non-aligned media source is a net negative.

There's no difference between the people who have to live under the regime they're changing and the people who seek its destruction?

I can't take that argument seriously, sorry.

To rephrase my response: do you think this action will meaningfully improve democratic health?

Just for the record. Is Russia a foreign adversary of the USA as-of today?

to me, america is a foreign nation. so no, I do not see any great difference, and yet I'm caught up in this censorship of the internet.

America IS a foreign nation doing it.

It's not like the American companies have their users best interest at heart either! They're literally bound by law to prioritize their shareholders interests.

Hard disagree: your own government at least has the incentive to make the country better (or at least appear so) to seek reelection. A foreign adversarial government has the incentive to limit the growth and power of the other country, in so far as it affects their own country.

Should you care about what your own government does with your data? Absolutely, 100%, no doubt, big ticket issue, fly the banners as visibly as possible. But more than an adversary? Not even close.

> your own government at least has the incentive to make the country better (or at least appear so) to seek reelection. A foreign adversarial government has the incentive to limit the growth and power of the other country, in so far as it affects their own country.

"Adversary" is assuming your conclusion. My own government has plenty of incentives to attack my business (I've got plenty of competitors who would support them in doing so), far more so than the government of China.

one can make laws that affect my life. The other ... can maybe inspire me to dance? Or pray to the CPP I guess?