Ah, the internet – where secrets go to die! Recently, classified documents made their way onto public view not on TikTok, but on U.S.-owned Discord. And who was behind this epic blunder, you might ask? None other than a 21-year-old U.S. National Guard member who wanted to impress his online buddies. Move over, WikiLeaks, there’s a new leaker in town!
We’ve seen it all before, folks. Secrets spilled online from WikiLeaks to Russian operatives hacking the DNC. In this day and age, information leaks can come from anywhere, so even your grandma might leak something juicy someday. Don’t underestimate the power of the elderly with access to Wi-Fi!
While everyone is losing their minds over TikTok, let’s not forget that anything posted or stored online is inherently vulnerable. The internet was never designed with national security in mind, so the risk of leaks is just the price we pay for free speech. Maybe we should go back to using carrier pigeons for sensitive documents?
But wait, what about China? TikTok’s Chinese ownership has everyone in a tizzy these days. It’s not the fear of leaked classified documents, but rather concerns that the Chinese government might gain access to user data or secretly manipulate the app’s algorithms. TikTok even takes the unusual step of not tracking user’s precise location like most other mobile apps. Hey, at least they’re trying!
Even with all the fuss about TikTok, a ban on the app wouldn’t solve all our problems. The U.S. government employs millions of people with security clearances, any one of whom can connect with, send information to, or get hacked by pretty much anyone anywhere. Trying to plug all the holes in the U.S. information sphere is like trying to fix a colander with a Band-Aid – good luck with that!
Sure, China is known to spy and President Xi Jinping has put the screws to tech firms in the past. But trying to keep certain types of information off the internet entirely is nearly impossible. Even child pornography thrives on this dark and twisted world wide web. Maybe we should focus our efforts on preventing phishing and ransomware instead?
So, what’s the solution to all this mess? While several lawmakers expressed concern over the leaked documents, none addressed what should be done about the platforms used to disclose sensitive materials. Meanwhile, Montana has become the first state to pass a law banning TikTok altogether. Will this solve our problems? Probably not. But at least we’ll know the Montanans are safe from those sneaky Chinese algorithms!
Serious News: washingtonpost
