Milton Mueller

Debates on whether the US should ban TikTok due to data privacy concerns, Chinese ownership worries, and national security implications. Arguments for banning focus on limiting Chinese influence, while opponents claim it would undermine a valuable video platform. Journalist encounters monitoring by ByteDance, raising further data privacy concerns and app ban implications.

Kori Schake, a Senior Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, and Milton Mueller, a Professor at Georgia Tech, dive into the heated debate over the potential ban on TikTok. Schake argues from a national security perspective, highlighting espionage fears linked to its Chinese ownership. In contrast, Mueller defends the app's value for free expression and creativity, questioning government censorship. Together, they navigate the complex balance between privacy concerns and First Amendment rights, probing the implications for 170 million American users.

Milton L. Mueller, a professor at Georgia Tech and head of the Internet Governance Project, explores the evolution of internet governance and the implications for today's tech policy. He discusses the historic shift of U.S. control over ICANN and the emergence of a more multi-stakeholder approach post-2012. The conversation touches on the geopolitics between the U.S. and China, tensions in tech sovereignty, and the UN's role in governance. Mueller emphasizes the need to retain idealism in navigating the complex future of digital governance.