Democracies Betrayed: The Global Battle for Internet Freedom
The United States and its allies have long ignored China's disregard for internet freedom and human rights, enabling the authoritarian regime to penetrate global digital infrastructure.
The Story:
The world's democracies have been far too complacent when it comes to the concerning actions of China regarding internet freedom and censorship. China's blatant violations of human rights and disregard for the basic norms of internet openness are well-documented. The country has aggressively blocked citizens from accessing a multitude of information providers, including major international media outlets and websites like Wikipedia. It has also engaged in the widespread surveillance of journalists and dissidents, demonstrating a clear pattern of oppressive behavior.
This abysmal track record has prompted the United States to take decisive action against TikTok, the popular social media platform owned by the Chinese company ByteDance. President Biden recently signed a law that gives TikTok roughly 270 days to find a new owner not subject to the control of the Chinese government. As Nazak Nikakhtar, a former Commerce Department assistant secretary, notes, "All these people are going to come in and say, 'I'll buy it.' Well, China's not going to give you all the code." This move sends a clear message that nations that disregard internet freedom norms will face consequences and cannot expect unfettered access to American markets.
The rationale behind this law is grounded in the recognition that control over digital infrastructure is crucial in shaping the future of civilization. As one commentator noted, "Infrastructure is destiny, and on some level, the continuing struggle to control the internet is a struggle for the future of civilization." The United States has determined that it cannot ignore China's flagrant violations of established internet principles, as outlined in the 2022 Declaration for the Future of the Internet, which China and other authoritarian regimes refused to sign.
The TikTok law is similar to longstanding U.S. regulations that barred foreign citizens and corporations from owning American radio and television stations, recognizing the political salience of control over communication platforms. While ByteDance maintains that it is not subject to Chinese government control, the evidence suggests otherwise, with the Chinese state owning a significant stake in the company and studies indicating that the government shapes TikTok's content in accordance with party preferences.
The implementation of this law is almost certain to lead to a legal challenge, likely on First Amendment grounds, as TikTok's CEO has already decried it as a "ban" on the "voice" of its users. The case will likely make its way to the Supreme Court, which will have to weigh the government's security concerns against the free speech and expressive interests of both the app's users and its corporate owner. Moreover, the passage of this law raises the specter of retaliation from China, which could target American companies and industries that have significant operations or sales within the Chinese market. As Nazak Nikakhtar says, "Is it going to cause some real pain? Absolutely. But do we take the pain now, when it's relatively manageable, or do we take the pain later, when too much is gone?"
The View:
This is a bold and necessary step taken by the United States to safeguard the principles of internet freedom and openness. The world's democracies have been far too complacent in the face of China's flagrant disregard for these fundamental values. Enough is enough – it is time to draw a clear line and make it unequivocally evident that nations that trample on established internet norms will face consequences.
The United States should enforce the principles of internet freedom and openness, and not throw up its hands and declare that there is nothing to be done. This law serves as a powerful message to the world: you cannot disregard basic internet freedoms and expect to have unfettered access to American markets. Addressing this issue is of paramount importance, as the struggle to control the internet is a struggle for the very future of civilization. The United States must take a firm stand and refuse to allow the erosion of the principles that underpin a free and open internet.
The United States is absolutely justified in demanding that TikTok find a new owner not subject to the control of the Chinese state. China's abhorrent track record of human rights violations, surveillance, and censorship is simply unacceptable. TikTok could be run as a nonprofit or be owned by a partnership of its current investors and individuals, to move towards a less toxic business model. While the legal challenges and potential for Chinese retaliation are certainly formidable, the consequences of inaction are far more dire. The democracies of the world have been played for fools for far too long. It is time to confront this challenge head-on and demonstrate that the values of internet freedom and openness are non-negotiable. The United States has taken a courageous and necessary step, and it is imperative that other democratic nations follow suit and take this threat to the digital age seriously.
TLDR:
China's abhorrent track record of human rights violations and internet censorship is unacceptable, yet democracies have failed to take decisive action.
The recent U.S. law to force TikTok's Chinese owner ByteDance to find a new owner is a long-overdue step, but it is just the beginning of a larger struggle to protect the internet's core principles of openness and freedom.
Democracies must stand firm against China's digital expansionism and enforce the basic norms of internet freedom, or risk ceding control of vital communication platforms to an authoritarian regime.
The battle over TikTok is not just about one app, but a pivotal moment in the escalating technological and ideological rivalry between the world's superpowers, with far-reaching implications for the future of the internet and global democracy.
Decisive action is required, even if it means radical measures like turning TikTok into an American-owned or nonprofit entity, to safeguard the internet's founding vision of bringing the world together in harmony.
Democracies can no longer afford to be the "suckers" in this high-stakes game, and must be willing to confront China's blatant disregard for internet freedom, even at the risk of retaliatory measures.
Insights From:
How the TikTok Law Could Intensify the US-China Tech Spat - Bloomberg