InfoSearched
Published -
- July 3, 2020
- 2:30 am
Rains have lasted over 30 days and are continuing.
And many other disasters are hitting at once including tornadoes, hailstorms, torrents, mudslides, and earthquakes — in addition to a possible new virus outbreak from the swine flu, and also expected locusts.
In Chongqing, videos show large-scale mudslides rushing towards highways, and residents were warned by officials they may be in danger of floodwaters if they live below the fourth floor in their buildings as water levels could allegedly reach over 600 feet. In Beijing, hailstorms continue. In Sichuan upstream of the Three Gorges Dam, a 4.5 magnitude earthquake hit on July 2. Flooding continues in 26 provinces of China, and there are increased warnings of a failure in the Three Gorges Dam.
And why would TikTok spy on Americans? We take an in-depth look at recent data suggesting TikTok was spying on user data, and look into the history of the company and its leadership.
In what ways can social media platforms like TikTok promote awareness and action on issues related to climate change?
As China grapples with some of the worst floods in its history, the popular social media app, TikTok, is under fire for allegedly spying on American users. These two seemingly unrelated events have captured the attention of global audiences, sparking discussions around data privacy, national security, and the impact of climate change.
The floods in China are truly devastating, affecting millions of people across multiple provinces. According to the country’s Ministry of Emergency Management, over 230 rivers have flooded, with 33 of them reaching record-high levels. As of mid-July 2021, at least 33 people have died or gone missing due to the floods, and over 3 million people have been forced to evacuate their homes. The economic toll is also significant, with reports estimating damages to be around $10 billion already.
Scientists believe that climate change is exacerbating the impact of these floods, citing rising temperatures and altered rainfall patterns that have triggered extreme weather across the world. While China has made significant strides in recent years towards mitigating the effects of climate change, this unprecedented flooding is a reminder of how much work is still left to be done.
Meanwhile, TikTok, the fast-growing short-form video app, is dealing with a different kind of crisis. The US government, led by former President Donald Trump, had repeatedly accused TikTok of being a national security risk due to its ties to China. Some politicians claimed that TikTok was collecting data on American users and sharing it with the Chinese government. In response, the Trump administration attempted to ban the app from the US market, though those efforts were later halted by court rulings.
Today, the concerns around TikTok’s data privacy practices remain, with some cybersecurity experts questioning the app’s data collection methods and the potential for user data to be misused or mishandled. TikTok has repeatedly denied these claims, stating that it stores user data in the US and that it has strict data protection policies.
As these two events continue to unfold, they raise several important questions about the intersection of technology, climate change and international relations. For instance, what is the responsibility of platforms like TikTok, which have millions of users worldwide, to safeguard their data privacy? How can China effectively address its climate challenges while balancing its global economic ambitions? And what role can governments, businesses and citizens play in mitigating the impact of climate change?
Ultimately, the floods in China and concerns about TikTok’s data privacy offer a sobering reminder of the complex challenges we face as a global community. They highlight the need for greater cooperation, transparency and vigilance as we work to address the pressing issues of our time.
