On: UT-Austin blocks access to TikTok on campus Wi-Fi ...

[UncleMeat]

But like... what cybersecurity threat is there to using TikTok while on UT wifi?

The concerns with TikTok are always around data collection and propaganda, not it pwning other stuff on the same network with malicious network traffic?

[switchbak → UncleMeat]

I'm no security professional, but I am familiar with the ultra crap security standards of many institutions. It's really just removing a drop from the ocean of potential risks, but doesn't seem that outlandish given the nature of TikTok and where it comes from.

[UncleMeat → switchbak]

But like, what risk? I'm serious. TikTok poses no risk to UT's networks.

[switchbak → UncleMeat]

Well, sure, I think you're right: if the Chinese state wants access to UT-Austin's networks, they definitely have that already, and cutting this out doesn't help anything.

I suppose they're just going along with their new law in a way that buys some political points.

Personally, I'd love it if we banned the damn thing everywhere, but only because I hate the mindless content :)

[cute_boi → switchbak]

There is no such potential risks. It is all about politics and propaganda.

[xwolfi → switchbak]

"where it comes from" makes it sound like Xi Jinping commandeered an app where teenagers dance as a trojan horse to befall capitalism...

Your fridge was maybe made there too, are you scared a secret radio chip could activate to render your food communist ?

[doubleg72 → xwolfi]

My fridge doesn't send recordings back to a server in China. Nor was it produced there.

[Idk__Throwaway → xwolfi]

My fridge doesn't curate the thoughts and ideas tens of millions of American youth are exposed to daily

[cyanydeez → switchbak]

It's a nationalist ban.

Whether it's a positive influence on _anything_ is questionable.

But it's not something happening outside politics

[kris_wayton → UncleMeat]

Especially given that TikTok will work fine on devices that are connected to the cell network and not wifi. I can't tell what is being protected, exactly.

[onlyrealcuzzo → kris_wayton]

This is like saying, if students can assault students outside of UT Austin - I don't know why we should ban students assaulting each other inside of UT Austin.

If you believe you're doing the right thing in some cases - you don't give up because you can't do the right thing in all cases.

UT Austin can be in the wrong. I'm just saying - simply because UT Austin banned TikTok doesn't mean they're doing it for censorship reasons. There could be other reasons...

[kris_wayton → onlyrealcuzzo]

I had assumed they meant the sort of almost public WiFi that any student has access to, which should be cordoned off from anything sensitive.