Lawfare Archive: Trump Takes Aim at TikTok and WeChat
May 27, 2024
auto_awesome
Dr. Sheena Greitens and Dr. Ronald Deibert discuss Trump's bans on TikTok and WeChat, U.S.-China relations, technology competition, Xi Jinping's security theory, personal data privacy, national security concerns in corporate transactions, and the need for global cooperation in addressing Chinese technology.
Need for systematic US policy on Chinese tech & surveillance beyond TikTok & WeChat.
Deep dives
TikTok Lawsuit Against US Government
TikTok filed a lawsuit against the government due to legislation aiming to ban TikTok in the US unless certain conditions were met. The lawsuit argues that the legislation violates TikTok's and its users' First Amendment rights, raising concerns about targeting companies through legislation and impacting US-China relations.
Trump's Executive Orders on TikTok and WeChat
President Trump issued executive orders in 2020 to ban TikTok and WeChat from operating in the US. Discussions with experts highlighted the aggressive foreign policy of China under Xi Jinping, changing trends in US-China relations, and the role of technology competition. The orders raised broader questions about the US-China relationship and technology confrontations.
US-China Relations and Technological Competition
The podcast delved into the tense moment in US-China relations amid China's assertive foreign policy under Xi Jinping. This shift in behavior impacts US-China interactions with competition and cooperation balancing. The focus on technology competition highlighted concerns about evolving US-China relations and the implications for technology confrontations.
Impact of Executive Orders on WeChat and Tencent
The executive orders affected WeChat and Tencent, leading to uncertainties about potential sanctions and prohibitions. Concerns arose about restrictiveness related to transactions with Tencent entities and the broader implications on US-China relations. The ambiguity in the orders raised questions about the extent of impact on WeChat's operations and Tencent's broader activities.
Policy Assessment and Multilateral Coordination
Discussions emphasized the need for a systematic US policy on Chinese technology and surveillance encompassing broader challenges beyond TikTok and WeChat. Policy assessment highlighted the implications for global internet freedom and privacy, urging multilateral coordination for a comprehensive strategy. The podcast underscored the importance of collaborating with international partners to navigate challenges in technology competition and surveillance.
From August 12, 2020: President Trump recently issued executive orders aimed at banning TikTok and WeChat from operating in the United States. To discuss the sanction, Bobby Chesney sat down with Dr. Sheena Chestnut Greitens, an associate professor at the LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin and a faculty affiliate with the Strauss Center for International Security and Law and the Clements Center for National Security at UT; and Dr. Ronald Deibert, a professor of political science and the founder and director of The Citizen Lab at the University of Toronto's Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy. In addition to the executive orders concerning TikTok and WeChat, they also discussed the larger U.S.-China relationship and the role of technology competition in that space.
