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Economist Podcasts

Drum Tower: Tick tock for TikTok

Mar 26, 2024
Don Weinland, The Economist’s China business and finance editor in Shanghai, joins Alice Su and David Rennie to discuss TikTok's precarious position amid U.S. legislative scrutiny. They explore claims that Chinese ownership poses national security risks, delving into the stark contrast between TikTok and its Chinese counterpart, Douyin. The conversation highlights the company’s struggles with algorithmic transparency and government control, raising critical questions about data privacy and the political implications of foreign tech ownership.
38:28

Episode guests

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Quick takeaways

  • TikTok's Chinese ownership raises national security concerns in the US.
  • TikTok's algorithm and content moderation pose questions about political influence and user trust.

Deep dives

TikTok's Ties with China and National Security Concerns

The podcast delves into the debate surrounding TikTok and its ties to China. America's House of Representatives passed a bill demanding TikTok, owned by ByteDance, to sever links with China. Despite TikTok's denial of sharing data with China, concerns about national security arise, with American politicians fearing Chinese influence.

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