Why we need to ban TikTok

[@bradygalen7660]

I hate when Daddy and Daddy fight

[@__mika84]

Immediately stressed out, thanks guys!

[@ivanrlynn]

That’s libs for ya 😂

[@miamiapia]

@@ivanrlynndo people still say lib unironically

[@RatherCrunchyMuffin]

​@ivanrlynn we just need some calming, laid back.. conservatives. Famously chill

[@TimberdoodleOutdoors]

Honestly, I think the public has so little trust in our government that people need proof that there is a threat. Their word doesn't mean shit.

[@benandemilshow]

biiiiig time

[@JoshJamesification]

Ben is stupid

[@dhariamg3336]

played this as a break after studying chinese for hours, thought i was hallucinating with that intro lol

[@robertc6293]

Getting ready for that migration into RedNote, ayy??

[@622chaos]

加油！

[@skimdmilk]

I think 56:00 is essentially what each of your arguments boils down to: Ben is rightly arguing that removing TikTok is a move to protect America’s interests, and Emil is right that this has NOTHING to do with protecting the privacy of Americans.

[@laurenguzman8731]

Time to clock out of my real job and go work downtown with Ben and Emil!

[@AliceP.]

It's nice that this is a podcast where people diverge. I'm new here, this is the second or third episode I listen to, but I'm very much on the side of the guy on the right (Emil?) and the discussion might help me understand where other people come from. Also, internet today is a shi*show of people being rude over different points of view, so it's refreshing to just listen to people disagree and explain it. :)

[@benandemilshow]

YES THANK YOU! and WELCOME!!! god bless AliceP (people are saying this everywhere)

[@cdw2468]

love internet today but their comments when folks disagree with the hosts are always the worst

[@andreajoan7193]

For sure! And they were both on the same page just in separate books maybe. It was like having both sides of my brain making points lol

[@DarkMuj]

this episode was absurdly high quality, perfect blend of 1) real semi-heated arguing 2) subsequent rapprochement 3) inspired skits and riffing 4) righteous indignation 5) exasperated techno-feudalism bashing ... add these up and you get PERFECTION.

[@benandemilshow]

Thank u darkmuj

[@DarkMuj]

@@benandemilshow stay gold ponyboys

[@Littleshouse]

I just started a wildly depressing new office job this week and hearing that intro song legitimately was the first thing to make me feel like it’s all gonna be ok

[@pixellips]

Steal markers off the supply closet

[@theendoftheworld9921]

Play soccer with your erasers and a foil ball

[@waitandforget]

@@theendoftheworld9921Im in college rn, put me on some more ways to fuck around in the office for when I get that boring ass office job

[@iheartlreoy8134]

Office job is good do not worry show up do your task but walk out on your break and end of day. Now is not the time to not have stable work

[@adumb789]

Ive been trying really hard to get off the internet, pretty much my only exposure is this show every week as a news dump. So keep at it boys, your show is actually really helpful in being less online

[@terkyjurky]

love it when my dad's argue and stay friends for another week. we love healthy conflict. we love strong relationships.

[@oriannaisabella7041]

I genuinely do struggle with my Internet addiction without a “third place”. I go to work, I go home and almost immediately go on my phone or tablet. I see friends on weekends but weekdays I feel like I’m in a rut. I don’t think winter helps but still.

[@brzyrt9714]

I think this is becoming more and more normal unfortunately. I feel like everyone I know exhibits degrees of that

[@622chaos]

God bless American infrastructure

[@oriannaisabella7041]

@622chaos exactly, and even when I do go for a walk or read I always end up back on my phone.

[@Dwuudz]

This is something that is super widespread these days. Third spaces are all being shut down or becoming too expensive for most people to use regularly.

[@oriannaisabella7041]

@@Dwuudz exactly I used to take a community yoga class on Saturdays for 8$ and its up to 15$ now.

[@wileydewitt]

Guys, really appreciate the honest and not always joyous show. It is very interesting and important to discuss these things.

[@benandemilshow]

thank you!!!

[@laurencatsomfg]

always happen to agree with Emil, love u king

[@tess3000]

A while ago someone on the b&e app said “another hour of the boys ‘no but-ing’ each other” and that’s really meant a lot to me ever since

[@OrenHill95]

It’s like watching my 2 drunk uncle’s debate. Hell yeah

[@silasfreeze5655]

56:23 the distinction between Americans and America is, I think, SO important, incredibly understated here-Americans are people, individuals, with (largely) beautiful souls and life and labor and art to contribute to the world. America the country, as Ben put it here, however, is a machine that kills and eats everything on the planet it can reach, including (and especially) Americans themselves. Protecting that machine as it exists now is little more than actively further endangering the American people.

[@RatherCrunchyMuffin]

Wow, that's one interpretation. There's also just a basic academic difference between individual and national interests broadly. For example, John Doe goes to fight Germany in the 1940s and dies -- his death certainly didn't serve the interest of his individual survival, but it did serve a national interest. Same goes for every policy decision from tariffs to loan forgiveness -- policies will always annoy some and serve others, but they generally are pursued to advance national interest

[@TimberdoodleOutdoors]

Congrats on 70k boys

[@grandeedon]

i don’t think ben understands that a government can lie on their reasoning

[@Nick-cs4oc]

riiight? how the heck does he believe that these ghouls care about our privacy AT ALL. im almost speechless at the naivety

[@anonharingenamn]

I have never seen as much leftist content as on tiktok and I strongly believe that this is the main reason for the ban. The lack of control over the recommendation algorithm.

[@theendoftheworld9921]

I think a lot of the racists/bigots in general that were inhabiting TikTok moved to reels, which kinda causes this ratio difference of left to right viewers

[@jonasdenhaan2147]

@@theendoftheworld9921 I feel its more that TikTok is just much more effective in introducing and hosting communities through the algorithm, participating on TikTok feels way natural. If you have interest in politics or psychology you will find great content and debate whilst on reels its just engagement bait

[@keaned2]

An effort to reduce foreign propaganda perhaps. Da fug is @theendoftheworld9921 talking about?

[@theendoftheworld9921]

@keaned2 A lot of racists/bigots moved to Instagram reels when it releases due to more lax rules around racism and bigotry on their app. Not that difficult to comprehend

[@Nick-cs4oc]

It's literally impossible to do the same level of commentary and support for certain groups on YT or Facebook or X, its nuts that conservatives still think theyre the ones being silenced. we have internal memos saying the exact opposite

[@IvanRampi]

I love the subtle edits. Def add to the experience while not being distracting

[@Misslethallylila]

Ditching my business and finance class to watch the boys argue 😂

[@glizard4679]

Should drop it honestly

[@SoyAngellll]

honestly not sure if you're picking up anything in that class that said nah crodie; you should definitely attend that class.

[@CheersMyDudes]

As I see it, the data thing isn’t even the problem with Tiktok. The worst part of it IMO, is the rampant consumerism from TikTok shop/ drop shipping, as well as the fast fashion trends which get spread on there. Those can’t be good for the environment. I doubt Shein and Temu would have managed to get so big without TikTok.

[@benandemilshow]

Wow that’s absolutely a great point we totally missed

[@Nick-cs4oc]

Thats capitalism baby, not TikTok. Amazon does the same thing, Instagram, youtube

[@taylormatthews8495]

I literally lived in China for 4 months teaching English to 1st and 2nd graders. We lived at the school 1st grade- high school lives at the school for the most part. They are very much sheltered and don’t know anything outside of China. And don’t even know what goes on in China. It’s wild over there

[@Nick-cs4oc]

Do we? mainstream media never talks about solving problems, only spreading fear. Crime, Crime, Crime! anything that challenges capital isnt going to be covered at all. I only see a difference of severity

[@AV8RLUKE]

0:00 - Debate Intro 1:10 - TikTok Ban 12:55 - MUD/WTR Ad // Promo: BAES 15:25 - Spying on Americans 24:40 - Rocket Money Ad // Promo: BAES 26:10 - Advanced Persistent Threat 32:40 - Who Wants TikTok Gone? 36:50 - Red Note App 42:00 - State Media 46:00 - Kyla Scanlon and National Security 50:45 - DEI and ASL 55:55 - Zuckercorn 1:17:30 - Fraud, Signs, Tubes, Anachronistic Outro BAES 83

[@hamcheeselettucemayosandwich]

Can’t decide if Emil is a nihilist or Chinese

[@terkyjurky]

por que no los dos?

[@Nick-cs4oc]

or maybe critical that the ones passing these laws arent interested in our privacy at all, theyre just interested in being the only ones with the access to our backdoors in every electronic

[@hamcheeselettucemayosandwich]

@@Nick-cs4oc ppl be confused between privacy and national security

[@daniellehyde9279]

That moment @46:20 when I realize Ben has no shoes on or socks and now I can't un-see it lol

[@shartman1366]

PLEASE read Solove’s “The Myth of the Privacy Paradox” it’s by far the single best piece of literature I’ve read on data privacy. He also wrote “I’ve Got Nothing to Hide” which dismantles that common argument on surveillance capitalism. Also the podcast Darknet Diaries is bing chilling

[@terkyjurky]

are you apart of the subreddit for this channel? the people are always looking for book recs!

[@yamarm]

emil that was a very well-done wink i applaud!

[@andreajoan7193]

I think Ben is just too America brained. Like, there is no difference between America having our data or China. Honestly, I trust America less with my data. Emil is bigger picture here. Ben I think just took in too much info too fast and has to work through some of it. And I get what Ben is getting at btw. No Ben hate! I love both these guys.

[@ngarrett16]

I actually love it when you guys disagree on a topic. It’s really informative to see both your thoughts fleshed out. I feel like it also arms me with good strategies to respond when I’m trying to explain my ideas to others. (Like why TikTok is in fact bad but so are all the tech companies)

[@dinag.4519]

Was feeling down but then this popped up just in time, thanks boys

[@JoelNJohnson]

Congrats on 70k subscribers!

[@terike6616]

I hate to say it but Ben is making a valid point… ultimately though, Emil is right! Anyway, love from Canada lol

[@matthewclarke912]

"The Big Danger is Big Tech." THIS IS THE ROOT ISSUE

[@benandemilshow]

1000%

[@Nicohamcg]

I think I get what Ben is trying to say, like eventhough both american owned and chinese owned companies take your data the latter has more reason to do something nefarious with it

[@franjkav]

This just seems like a sentiment rooted in American exceptionalism though ….I’m sure you know this is propaganda itself. But also, I disagree with Emil saying the American government doesn’t collect data. Sure maybe they don’t collect it directly through apps like TikTok, but they definitely buy data. Brennan Center has a Feb 2024 post titled “Closing the Data Broker Loophole”. Just the act of buying our data is pretty fkin nefarious as far as I’m concerned

[@cdw2468]

but they can still get the data even when the app is banned

[@Nick-cs4oc]

KIA has a stat on their customers sex lives.... they arent doing anything nefarious? using our data to control our every waking moment is pretty nefarious in my book

[@carlosg9934]

After listening, the thumbnail is straight artistic genius

[@th3summoner]

Ben, American companies already sell data to China by the boatload. There is no difference between TikTok harvested data and Facebook sold data when it comes to influencing someone. It was so bad they had to make a law banning it for data brokers, H.R.7520. Funnily enough this law SPECIFICALLY carves out a loophole, defining brokers as " an entity that sells or otherwise provides data of individuals that the entity did not collect directly from the individuals" which can easily allow companies to sell data they collect themselves. If anywhere in the TikTok bill there were restrictions to American companies for selling their own data, I'd agree that you have a point. But what is happening now is that the public loses access to something and gain no more protection in return. Its the same problem you had in your support of Pronhub ban, it is only taking action against one single point of the issue. It takes away access to something without any gain or progress towards a solution at all. Just as kids will move to unregulated sites to find pron, China will move to other companies for American user data instead. Emil, wassup bro.

[@terkyjurky]

Fentanyl comes from China, but legislating against it unnecessarily creates a market for synthetic opioids that are resistant to narcan. In the US we are finally getting things like fentanyl tests strips and naloxone to be carried on a large scale and creating another war on drugs situation would be devastating.

[@samsklub3]

the intro gets me pumped every time boys i'll say it

[@AndrewSlacks]

I'm not bothered by the idea of tiktok going away because I've seen it, and short form content in general, as a net negative in terms of the erosion of attention spans and proliferation of misinformation. That said, I find the pearl clutching over user data to be a big "rules for thee and not for me".

[@Nick-cs4oc]

its the profit incentive mate, just like pushing rage bait content and bot discourse is extremely profitable. theres always going to be another erosion of creativity and human ingenuity to render into money

[@shelbz1388]

Yoooooo Emil was waiting for one of you guys to bring up Chris Rufo. He was appointed to the board of my liberal arts college and demonized and ultimately discontinued majors and ended contracts of brilliant professors on the premise of DEI. Thank u for bringing light to his madness.

[@kylee696]

36:37 i also want to see the people rise up ben? so should the people stay complacent cause foreign governments want us to do the opposite?

[@scoochv]

I like the longer episodes, great show this week boys! Looking forward to the return of weekend rip tonight

[@theendoftheworld9921]

42:00 It really sucks when you get relayed such juicy information like this under such circumstance. Because there are all those things to consider. Is that really what you think is going on there? Is it actually? Its such enticing information you cant really get anywhere else, but its also massively influenced by someone elses perspective, and interpretation of the situation given the knowledge they have at that time in their life. I.e. its not dependable information, but its really entertaining and even makes you want to believe it

[@Oblongota]

49:24 honestly learning internet decorum in schools won’t help when the algorithms under the hood are designed to hook people into addictive patterns of use. Social media is way too far gone to be controlled, the best means of defense is to abstain from most of it. I’m with Emil on this one.

[@franjkav]

Improving emotional awareness would probably help a lot of people. I think “social-emotional learning” is becoming more common in schools which seems positive. I don’t know about current adults though. Personally I largely have reduced my social media usage significantly and when i look at something like Reddit, I try to create obstacles. For example, I look at it in the browser while logged out that way i don’t get into comment wars and even when I do comment, I don’t see reply notifications until I decide to comment again (and I try to ignore them still). Ultimately this still required me to become fed up enough about feeling angry or just bad when using social media and I think that’s the part that baffles me about others. I wonder what it takes for very angry, hateful, etc people to decide they no longer want to feel that way. Solutions might be difficult to find but just acknowledging the desire for change can be quite alleviating I think.

[@JoeCooL18]

You guys are my only source of news besides TikTok.

[@gregeggheefflar]

I honestly think Ben is a little off his rocker for this subject, Emil is totally right about the fact that this doesn't really do anything to protect American citizens' information. Everything on the internet, no matter what some people may say, is completely open and accessible to whoever, whenever, especially to massive state-funded hacker groups, like the linty of them listed by Ben. It doesn't matter what company is collecting your data, nor what country it originates from, especially when almost every American company that collects user data sells it to the highest bidder without further consideration, if someone wants data/information, they'll get it, especially a country/government like China.

[@samdandy3907]

Y’all need to get a cyber security person in on this convo

[@user-bdpdfom]

book and toilet are fighting again/:

[@kiwi_1199]

The fact that theyre nitpicking TikTok when there are plenty of chinese owned companies they’re ignoring seems targeted coupled with the governments concerns over it influencing its users viewpoint on America when it is well known for cultivating a space for valid U.S. critiques from its own citizens just seems nefarious

[@theendoftheworld9921]

Absolutely

[@benandemilshow]

nothing comes even close to the size and scope of TT though and when the algorithm can amplify or suppress whichever critiques it likes is cause for major concern

[@kiwi_1199]

@@benandemilshow totes agree there’s valid criticism against TikTok I️ just don’t think the governments ban is because they hold the average citizens best interest at heart. I️ think it’s concerning for what kind of precedent this could set for future apps/media that foster a similar space for u.s. critique. X is currently pushing a right leaning u.s. positive agenda with its algorithm. This double standard feels very fascist.

[@720lilyb]

I feel like the TikTok ban is a bit sensationalist for the reasons Emil is describing. There is and always will always be companies owned or subsidized by foreign adversaries that have potential to meddle in American politics, tech and economics. Cutting off the giant hydra head of something like TikTok is fine, but a drop in the bucket compared to actual broad policy changes in tech which, like Ben was describing last ep, will take impossibly too long with ancient and uber wealthy law makers. Real change comes at amputating the problem here at home, cutting all corporations to the nub, including American ones, which reportedly meddle in our data, elections, and wallets way more than any foreign adversary. That kinda policy changes feels impossible, so this feels sensational. But idk, hopefully it sets some sort of precedent for broader change, I highly doubt it.

[@E-u8s]

I work in data security, and I'm currently studying for the Certified Information Privacy Professional/US exam. I don't use TikTok, so I don't have any personal stake in if it gets banned or not. I understand what Ben is trying to say. However, I think the debate surrounding this issue is essentially moot when you consider Emil's point that the US government could have just as easily (if not more easily) passed privacy legislation that would address the concerns Ben raised way more effectively. As it stands, US tech companies can and do sell personal data to foreign companies and to data brokers that sell to foreign countries and companies. In my personal opinion, banning TikTok does absolutely nothing to protect anyone. If I were to be generous, it's putting a bandaid on a bullet hole.

[@E-u8s]

Also what the hell was the knife thing

[@davisdial3301]

death grips reference hell yeah

[@natquiz]

46:20 jump scare, Ben’s dogs are barkin, & I didn’t need to see that

[@aguiebakes6821]

Why isn't Emil talking tennis anymore?

[@frasnosrep2]

Chefs kiss episode, especially the knife part

[@rosiethebug]

Ok boys what the hell was the knife thing?

[@LordOfDhara]

What is china gonna do with my data that Elon musk won’t do Ben

[@benandemilshow]

what they've already done and continue to do: use the algorithm to put their thumb on the scales to stoke tensions and undermine trust in the US government. also it's 10x worse for a *foreign government* to do this

[@LordOfDhara]

@ how many Americans do you think legitimately trust the federal government? I don’t think it’s that many. Also china doesn’t need to stoke tensions we are mad enough. I guess I can concede that your point here is valid I just think Americans would be fighting either way Like seriously in good faith I’m not trying to be annoying I legit want to know what you think the concern is I guess for me I don’t really care if the American government comes out on top of this Cold War with china. Why is it my fucking problem. I don’t make enough money to care about shit. We already won one Cold war, we are due for an L All respect to you btw Ben I’m not hating I love you just wanted to pick your brain about this

[@slowlanegamer]

Well I will tell you at least one thing China won’t do, throw a tantrum on X (twitter) and then take away your ☑️ blue check mark cuz you made him mad and called him a fake gamer 😂 then ask who these mysterious editors of your KZbin channel are pulling the strings 💀🤣… sorry lmao this just made me laugh

[@slowlanegamer]

⁠​⁠@@benandemilshowthat does seem mildly fair 🤔. But is it less likely to happen on other platforms? Just from outside sources and not directly or bots and such

[@Dwuudz]

Isn’t this literally what the argument in the 50/60s was? Maybe something is inherently wrong with a system fragile enough to be broken by TikTok... This country lacks literally any basic protections against this shit, and blaming china (as shitty as they also are) for taking advantage of a system that WE CREATED is totally deflecting away from the actual problem.

[@LordOfDhara]

My favorite show back for another week!!!!!😊

[@brianjkregan]

36:36 Ben's statement here isn't propagandizing. Unrest in America benefits other global powers. Nearly every single country on Earth has a leader. It's reasonable to assume that each of them believes they would do a great job of ruling the world. Like, even if it's not realistic, they dream of being the Most Important Person Ever In All Of History. So xenophobia and jingoism and personal beliefs aside: power fluctuates, and unrest in America weakens that power, and it delivers positive outcomes for those most disconnected from and least aligned with America.

[@brianjkregan]

41:41 And Emil is absolutely right that many others in the media and culture are propagandizing, often in Sinophobic fashion, and it's inherently really tricky to untangle. Otherwise it wouldn't be propaganda!

[@benandemilshow]

yes!! thank you for these insightful and well worded comments. all of this is true at the same time. it's complex and tricky to navigate and there is no perfect solution or opinion!

[@isabellashults859]

Weirdly enough I had my congress-person (Diana Harshbarger who I do not support) tell me and a few of my friends ON the steps of the capitol to delete tiktok from our phones

[@LordOfDhara]

Less than a minute in and the girls are fighting

[@cram7254]

I love this debate

[@averyw396]

Hey guys I deleted all my social media because Ben scared me.

[@7dragongames]

It's funny how Ben said he was shocked by his Chinese friend's explanation of the Uyghur situation when meanwhile he just zips his mouth shut and waits whenever Emil brings up the genocide in Palestine.

[@theendoftheworld9921]

Maybe cause there's not much else to say? It's a bad situation and he doesn't need to add his opinion to it, necessarily

[@EvWuzhere]

As always, Emil is beautiful and correct about everything

[@dants2444]

51:30 had me crying 😭

[@aya_____7921]

U know it's serious when there are no dada/mama jokes

[@waitandforget]

Emil’s right

[@omlette9214]

I am a listener from Canada

[@popefrancis80]

I am a listener from the country of pain (Spain). Hola

[@lordfarquaad9097]

Great now I'm getting Red Note ads.

[@fluffybunny644]

i love watching them fight, reminds me of my parents :’)

[@theonlyever]

Shoutout to The Shock Doctrine. When are you having Naomi Klein as a guest?

[@jj_579]

great video! But.. why is Ben wearing a wig in this episode?

[@benandemilshow]

yeah hair was on bad mode

[@CNRMAX]

Common Ben L

[@sandypandy2271]

i would love to hear what kayla says on this, can you have her on the next ep?

[@offmipills]

I hate when the Greek god and the Jew fight😢

[@sqresnake]

what the hell was the knife thing?

[@benandemilshow]

honestly i can't remember but it might've been a thr3at toward someone

[@ivanrlynn]

@@benandemilshowmatan evan needs a word

[@creemzyt5418]

It’s pronounced fentanyl not fentanyl

[@lizpropst3805]

“I know that a lot of people are mad at the American government and you have every right to be, but when they say ‘Oh, the American government is worried about its people rising up against it,’ you know who wants to see Americans rise up against their government - CHINA” WHY DOES IT NOT MATTER THAT AMERICANS ALSO WANT THIS WHY??? You said it was a moot point that the interests of American tech companies and FASCISTS in our country align because that was a coincidence or not a driving factor somehow - then why is it not also moot that everyday Americans’ anti-fascist sentiments line up with China???

[@benandemilshow]

it absolutely does matter...i just don't think a lot of americans want a full on uprising because our entire system and way of life would fully collapse in ways we don't really appreciate. the american government has caused it's own "undermining" demise by allowing domestic tech companies to pillage the citizens AND allowing foreign tech to wreak havoc in their own ways

[@lizpropst3805]

@@benandemilshowof course, it would take much more organizing and educating to overthrow the ruling class in America, especially because, at large, we do not understand the way a proletariat revolution occurs and the potential consequences. Studying history and talking about it helps this. Even if we aren’t revolting, the only way we can stop the spread of fascism is through organizing and educating. That organziing and educating was happening on a huge scale on TikTok. This ban will set us back significantly. It is not happening, and will not be possible, on Meta or Twitter because they are the fascists.

[@lizpropst3805]

love this conversation, but I think my reply and another reply on a different comment got deleted or blocked by KZbin? had some scary words in it like Free Palestine

[@lizpropst3805]

⁠@@benandemilshowtrying again: yeah, I agree that most Americans aren’t ready/do not understand/ or do not want any kind of revolution. I also think American imperialism is the biggest threat to the entire world, and I am personally devoted to educating and organizing Americans against it in order to protect ourselves. It would take so much organizing and educating to attempt a proletarian revolution - or any kind of reallocation of wealth - that it seems impossible to most of us. That is due in part to successful anti-communist propaganda done “in the interest of national security,” for at least 75 years now. Even if we aren’t thinking globally, that necessary educating and organizing is also essential to fighting fascism at home. That organizing and educating was happening on TikTok on a huge scale, especially for young people. It is not happening and will not be possible on Meta or Twitter for obvious reasons. All I’m saying is it is a coherent political stance to prefer Chinese companies have our data than American ones; it’s not an uninformed one.

[@lizpropst3805]

oops another reply got deleted - maybe kind of illustrating my point. The comments without scary words like pr0letariat and anti-cap1talist are getting through, the others disappearing quickly. ?? I am able to talk about those things openly on non-American owed platforms…

[@CarlosRodriguez-zw5gc]

he's singaporean ben...

[@Rodviet]

I have nothing important to say, just that as a married woman, I'm desperately in love with this Benjamin guy and his Chinese things.

[@ketsuo_ptb]

hey ben, "jackie chan" cracked me up. just saying. love ya

[@LordOfDhara]

Bitedance is heavily invested in by American Capitol. It will not be banned. This has been a very funny debacle

[@Flashifyable]

The top bankers comment is such a sign of the times. A rich guy thinking he’s oppressed because he can’t say slurs

[@gamb]

i love ben’s slow transition into maga and episode by episode

[@theendoftheworld9921]

Wym

[@SoyAngellll]

@@theendoftheworld9921 it's a joke.

[@theendoftheworld9921]

@SoyAngellll Yea I'm not entirely stupid I get that. It's just coming out of nowhere. Kind of left field since nothing he said or has said seems MAGA like to me.

[@taylormatthews8495]

Also I took sign language in college and they teach you to emphasize your eye brows

[@Negative_NBG]

Someone ask Ben if he'd care this much if it was a European nation or a South American nation taking all this data. It sounds to me like he's got a case of the red scare

[@benandemilshow]

i get what you're saying but you're completely disregarding that china is our biggest rival. that is the issue here. so no, i wouldn't take as much an issue if it was a euro or SA nation. why do people insist on just thinking that America is the only nation on earth with bad intentions and that we're just brainwashed to "fear" other rivals?

[@Nick-cs4oc]

@@benandemilshow if china is such a huge threat then theyll just get the same info from Amazon or KIA or whoever. also lets just put aside that we do almost all of the same things against our own citizens. the whole point is China often acts in reserved self interest where America puts bases outside their border with missiles at their head and signal global alarms as soon as an aircraft goes over the water. these things are not equal and its laughable to act like America isnt the instigator

[@TessFibre]

Greetings from the S in BRICS. China loves us. No app bans for us 😅

[@keaned2]

Does China really love you?

[@aroundtheworldtoo]

Big Ben is Big Mad!

[@kozhedub]

I love you both so much but damn sometimes Ben is such a liberal

[@idahopotato172]

come to pittsburgh!!

[@jaybee6330]

Tell me what's goin' on!

[@taylorluchansky3055]

I don't understand what Emil doesn't get. He's so zoomed in on wanting to criticize Meta that he's failing to see both things can be true. Yes, Meta collects and misappropriates our data, and we need to push back. We do not want China to be the owner of Tiktok. Tiktok won't change ownership unless it's forced to. This does really do something. Its precedant

[@iangallaher]

Love when my boyfriends get mad at each other

[@theendoftheworld9921]

46:00 🙌

[@Panetrain12]

Chairman Emil

[@EffectEcho]

is the US data not completely and totally stored in the US anyways? like you guys own your own data so there's not much that can be manipulated there unless the US government is using it to manipulate it's own citizens (which is does a lot). also in terms of undermining government trust, China doesn't need to do much to undermine trust your own government does that pretty well on its own (i'm also Canadian and i'm very biased against the US government right now with all the things they're doing to us so take this with a grain of salt)

[@morgankline8722]

Cool that Emil stans the CCP 🤙