I think the problem is far greater than TikTok. At a simplistic level I believe countries should use what I call the "mirror principle" to business and legal relationships.
In other words, if you think it's OK to steal our intellectual property, then we do the same. OK, to ban, block and force business structures, we treat you exactly as you treat us. Ban chunks of the international internet? No problem, you are treated the same.
Yes, I know this is simplistic. Yet, I think there's merit to the idea that we treat each other as we each choose to treat the other. I don't say this in a religious sense at all (atheist). I say this as a starting point from which a relationship can be refined and framed in less sophomoric terms. The alternative is to start from a position of absolute contempt for the other it is difficult to shift the relationship towards the middle. Just look at the, sadly, plentiful history of contentious divorces for examples of this.
BTW, I am not saying this in a US-centric fashion. China has been predatory to almost every nation of the world. From the tip of South America to the northern reaches of Europe and everything in between. They ought to live by the same rules they impose on everyone wishing to do business in China.
Another thing that deeply bothers me are the Chinese companies listed in US stock exchanges, none of which seem to comply with US regulatory and accounting requirements. In other words, they are likely as opaque as can be, or worse, they could be fabricating financials. US and other investors could be in for a horrific awakening as investment in these companies could very well be a house of cards.
I do believe framing the TikTok problem in terms of national security is wrong.
The correct term would be "global security". The US happens to be mounting resistance at this stage, yet other nations should think this through carefully. The most important fact to understand here is that the Chinese Communist Party has their hooks into absolutely everything in China. It might look benevolent when you buy your $28 blender at Walmart, but, in the long term, the equation that drives decision-making at the CCP isn't one that seeks to improve the lives of the Walmart shopper. Read Sun Tzu, it's all there. Now add ideology, motive and objectives.
As a parent I do not want my kids anywhere close to these algorithms. I also don't care for my kids to be anywhere close to the Facebook algorithms.
Imagine, if you will, if the US federal government had --by force, by law-- full access to all of the data from Facebook, Google, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, etc.
Would you be comfortable with that reality?
I would not. Not one bit.
Why then, is it OK for the CCP to have their hooks into everything that reaches international shores that has "Made in China" in it?
I think it is fair to say that nobody is comfortable with their own government (anywhere in the world) having detailed access to all of their most intimate social media/internet data.
How could anyone be in favor of the CCP having exactly that access through, quite literally, every Chinese company doing business internationally?
For me, from a Libertarian/Classical Liberal perspective, this isn't about hating China --I do not, they should be free to do as they please within their own nation. This is about a general principle:
No government in the world should be allowed to sink their hooks into internet companies to turn everything we touch with our phones, computers and TV's into surveillance data from birth until death. That would be --and I hope everyone agrees with this-- unequivocally wrong, evil, disturbing and can lead to nothing good in the long term.
This is not how free human beings are supposed to live on this planet. Going from free animals roaming the plains to being entries in massive databases with unique identifiers tattooed on our backs is far from freedom. It's the internet turning humanity into cattle. Add the power of government to that and anyone should be able to understand why this TikTok mess is the right fight to have at this moment in time.
In other words, if you think it's OK to steal our intellectual property, then we do the same. OK, to ban, block and force business structures, we treat you exactly as you treat us. Ban chunks of the international internet? No problem, you are treated the same.
Yes, I know this is simplistic. Yet, I think there's merit to the idea that we treat each other as we each choose to treat the other. I don't say this in a religious sense at all (atheist). I say this as a starting point from which a relationship can be refined and framed in less sophomoric terms. The alternative is to start from a position of absolute contempt for the other it is difficult to shift the relationship towards the middle. Just look at the, sadly, plentiful history of contentious divorces for examples of this.
BTW, I am not saying this in a US-centric fashion. China has been predatory to almost every nation of the world. From the tip of South America to the northern reaches of Europe and everything in between. They ought to live by the same rules they impose on everyone wishing to do business in China.
Another thing that deeply bothers me are the Chinese companies listed in US stock exchanges, none of which seem to comply with US regulatory and accounting requirements. In other words, they are likely as opaque as can be, or worse, they could be fabricating financials. US and other investors could be in for a horrific awakening as investment in these companies could very well be a house of cards.
I do believe framing the TikTok problem in terms of national security is wrong.
The correct term would be "global security". The US happens to be mounting resistance at this stage, yet other nations should think this through carefully. The most important fact to understand here is that the Chinese Communist Party has their hooks into absolutely everything in China. It might look benevolent when you buy your $28 blender at Walmart, but, in the long term, the equation that drives decision-making at the CCP isn't one that seeks to improve the lives of the Walmart shopper. Read Sun Tzu, it's all there. Now add ideology, motive and objectives.
As a parent I do not want my kids anywhere close to these algorithms. I also don't care for my kids to be anywhere close to the Facebook algorithms.
Imagine, if you will, if the US federal government had --by force, by law-- full access to all of the data from Facebook, Google, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, etc.
Would you be comfortable with that reality?
I would not. Not one bit.
Why then, is it OK for the CCP to have their hooks into everything that reaches international shores that has "Made in China" in it?
I think it is fair to say that nobody is comfortable with their own government (anywhere in the world) having detailed access to all of their most intimate social media/internet data.
How could anyone be in favor of the CCP having exactly that access through, quite literally, every Chinese company doing business internationally?
For me, from a Libertarian/Classical Liberal perspective, this isn't about hating China --I do not, they should be free to do as they please within their own nation. This is about a general principle:
No government in the world should be allowed to sink their hooks into internet companies to turn everything we touch with our phones, computers and TV's into surveillance data from birth until death. That would be --and I hope everyone agrees with this-- unequivocally wrong, evil, disturbing and can lead to nothing good in the long term.
This is not how free human beings are supposed to live on this planet. Going from free animals roaming the plains to being entries in massive databases with unique identifiers tattooed on our backs is far from freedom. It's the internet turning humanity into cattle. Add the power of government to that and anyone should be able to understand why this TikTok mess is the right fight to have at this moment in time.
If not now, when?