All the major social media companies I'm aware of are based in Silcon Valley, IE the United States. I'm not saying that foreign governments don't try to astroturf them, but surely companies based IN america are more likely to be heavily influenced BY American influences (corporate and government)? And surely you should be more afraid of having your opinion influenced by propaganda from the people who actually hold the power over the platform, than from foreign governments trying to infiltrate the platform? Surely you should be more afraid of the powers that be that are actually close to home for you?

This is my thing with people that are afraid of Russia or CPC influence. I'm not a Christian, but I do think that Jesus had a really good damn point when he said "take the beam out of your own eye". Focus on whats going on in your own neck of the woods.

Its like the "TikTok harvesting data for the Chinese government" controversy, why are we worried about that when American social media companies are harvesting our data right here at home. What rational reason do I have to be more afraid of a foreign government than the one I actually live under the power of?

ETA: Porkroll Posadist (the one with the arthur clenching fist PFP) made a really good post about this here: https://hexbear.net/comment/3714293

[–] rckclmbr@lemm.ee 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

A company based in the country of operation is incentivized for that country to be financially successful. A foreign government isn't, unless it's to their advantage. I'm not afraid of foreign interference, but I think there's aligned goals in supporting a company in your own country. I agree influence could happen both in and out of the countries, and all sides of the political spectrum

[–] AntiOutsideAktion@hexbear.net 31 points 1 year ago (1 children)

A company based in the country of operation is incentivized for that country to be financially successful.

Seems like you should be able to test this theory in the real world by observing how corporations approach paying taxes

[–] rckclmbr@lemm.ee 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

We are comparing foreign government to a domestic corporation

[–] AntiOutsideAktion@hexbear.net 25 points 1 year ago

What part of my reply to you gave you the impression I wasn't able to read your comment?

You're fundamentally wrong about the nature of one of the things you're comparing. Now that I've explained the subtext of my comment do you have anything to say to that point?