Why Aren't We as Worried About U.S. Billionaires Stealing Our Data?

In a thought-provoking video titled "Hello?" shared on Imgur, a critical question is raised: Why aren't we as concerned about U.S. billionaires manipulating us through data as we are about China using TikTok for similar purposes?

The video highlights a significant issue. The speaker points out that while concerns about China's potential misuse of TikTok are valid, there is an alarming lack of equal concern about how American billionaires are exploiting data from other apps to influence us. This sentiment echoes the Cambridge Analytica scandal, where data was allegedly used to sway election results.

One comment brings attention to another alarming issue: "Russian owned ifunny was CAUGHT siphoning swing state voter data through Russian hackers ad scams. Blaming our own and China is distraction." This statement underscores the broader problem of data misuse by various ent*****, not just foreign ones.

Elon Musk's activities with X, formerly known as Twitter, also come under scrutiny. A user comments, "Elon is doing very shady stuff with X now, leading up to the election. It's disturbing to say the least." This highlights the ongoing concerns about how data manipulation can affect democratic processes.

Interestingly, another user points out, "TikTok is banned in China and that's all you need to know about it." This comment suggests that if even the country of origin is wary of an app, other countries should be cautious too.

However, not everyone is indifferent. One user mentions, "I do worry about it. I say 'Sorry I don't use TikTok' in response to people sending me TikTok links so much that it's in my phone's autosuggestions." This shows that some individuals are already taking steps to protect their data.

The issue isn't just about banning TikTok, as another commenter clarifies: "The USA isn't trying to BAN Tiktok the way other countries have, they're trying to ban foreign OWNERSHIP of it; force them to sell it to American owners. They don't give a f*** about privacy; they're butthurt b/c someone else is making profits."

In Europe, concerns about data privacy are more pronounced: "In Europe we are." This suggests that different regions have varying levels of awareness and concern about data privacy.

One commenter aptly summarizes the paradox, saying, "Because of the US billionaires who own the other apps are stealing our data and manipulating us." This captures the essence of the video—it's not just about foreign apps; domestic ones pose significant risks too.

Another perspective is that TikTok's real threat isn't spying but how it democratizes information: "It's not that China is using Tik-Tok to spy on us, it's that ordinary people are using Tik-Tok to share context about news stories that the Oligarch-owned Media doesn't want us to have."

The rise of fascism is also linked to data manipulation: "The rise of fascism is no accident. It is planned and social media platforms have been pushing that agenda for at least a decade now. Most of mainstream media as well. It's quite obvious really. Has been for years. Tiktok does it most blatantly though."

One commenter praises the video creator: "He is always on the pulse...& trying to wake us all up." Another identifies him, "That's Robert R****, if I'm not mistaken. He's right."

Lastly, a sobering thought: "Not so fun fact: the threat in your home should be of greater importance than the threat from outside your home."

For more insights on data privacy and manipulation, check out these articles:

- [The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2019/nov/03/facebook-politics-republicans-right)

- [Politico](https://www.politico.com/news/2020/09/26/facebook-conservatives-2020-421146)

- [USA Today](https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2022/03/30/facebook-targeted-victory-attack-rival-tiktok/7224564001/)

- [More from Politico](https://www.politico.com/news/2021/10/25/facebook-fatal-flaw-technologists-lobbyists-516927)

Data privacy isn't just a foreign issue; it's a domestic one too. The conversation needs to include the activities of U.S. billionaires who own major apps and how they might be manipulating us.