When it comes to censorship and content management on the Internet , China and the US are at odds with each other.
Until now, Beijing has always had strict Internet control regulations, even blocking major foreign websites to facilitate the development of domestic services. Meanwhile, the US is known for its open-minded strategy to help American technology firms dominate the world.
By the time Mr. Trump enacted the ban of TikTok and WeChat, the White House showed that it was ready to adopt the strategy of internet control that Beijing is working on. Mr. Trump went even further, forcing TikTok owner ByteDance to sell all of the app's operations in the US to another business if he wanted to continue in the country.
The US ban will split the Internet
On August 17, the US continued to strike Huawei. The US Commerce Department will add 38 Huawei branches in 21 countries to the "entity list", bringing the total to 152 since the list was first announced in May 2019.
After a few hours, the US Commerce Department announced more details in the new regulation that prohibits Huawei from buying chips from chip manufacturers or non-US electronic component suppliers, if they use the technology or. US software in the manufacturing process.
However, it could affect US technology firms like Facebook or Google that have global influence, as well as China's "Internet giants" like Tencent, Alibaba want to reach out to the West. .The US moves show a new approach to controlling technology firms, a closer approach to China without content censorship.
If there are many countries applying the same controls as the US because of national security concerns, the Internet will be no different from a "patchwork" similar to the visa policy for tourism.
“A business ban will lead to retaliation and contribute to the separation of the Internet,” said Ron Deibert - Professor of Political Science, Director of the Munk School Citizens' Studies Division for Global Affairs and Public Policy at the University. study Toronto (USA), said.
"America can pay dearly"
China and the US have different starting points in how they control the high-tech industry. The Chinese government is ready to take strong measures against objects against the government or take actions beyond control. They also made no secret of their ambition to incorporate the Chinese name into cutting-edge technologies, which worried foreign businesses that they would not have a competitive advantage with local companies.
The White House ban for TikTok and WeChat, expected to take effect September 20, is seen as a measure to protect American citizens from the threat of data collection by Beijing, stemming from the idea that China should be punished for violating democratic norms.
This principle of "reciprocity" sparked a confrontation between the Trump administration and Beijing over trade, industrial policy and the media.
When the Trump administration bans TikTok and WeChat, countries can perceive their dependence on US technology from a different perspective.
In the Internet field, the above policy can cost the US expensive. While some countries embrace the Chinese approach, many are uncomfortable with the dominance of US companies like Facebook, Google and Amazon, even considering imposing taxes and restrictions on operations. their.
Some countries have tightened controls on US social networks. In developing countries, Chinese companies can fully afford to beat Western services.
According to Deibert, it took China many years to expand its influence in Africa, Latin America and the Middle East. Chinese telecommunications companies and smartphone manufacturers have foothold by launching low-cost devices.
Judd Deere, a White House spokesman, said the US administration "is committed to protecting citizens from all cyber threats to critical infrastructure, public health, economics and national security. ".
The decency from President Trump
In China, people are familiar with Chinese search services, shopping websites and social networks. Many young Chinese even know very little about Google, Twitter and Facebook.
While many American politicians condemn Chinese censorship, Chinese sanctions are few. Previous presidents believed that America was big enough to influence Internet access around the world.
However, the rise of China in recent years has lost that belief. Under Mr. Trump's reign, the United States is fiercely holding back that development.
In his speech on May 29 at the Rose Garden, Mr. Trump accused China of stealing US intellectual property, violating commitments of the World Trade Organization. However, he believes that the fault is not only on China.
“They can escape the accusations of the past thanks to the politicians and presidents in the past. Unlike them, my administration is always fighting for the right, ”Mr. Trump also limited the access of the Chinese media and researchers in the US.
Matt Perault, Professor of Policy Science and Technology Center, Duke University expressed concern that the United States entered the trade war with a similar approach to China, whereas in the past, the US strategy was completely opposite. .
Perault said that Chinese companies operating in the US are subject to the same policies as US companies operating in China, such as divesting assets, limiting stock ownership and adjusting where to locate servers. data saving.
In addition, the Trump administration is still defending the US technology giants against accusations from abroad.
The White House has criticized the service tax policy for US companies operating in France, the UK, Italy and India that target Google and Amazon. The United States also opposes Europe's addressing privacy concerns by blocking the flow of users' data to the US.
In the ban on TikTok and WeChat, the White House also mentioned a similar ban by the Indian government, a strange move because the US has always criticized India for its policy related to other areas.
Clete Willems, a partner at the law firm Akin Gump, a former trade official in the Trump administration, said that executive orders were issued out of national security concerns, not "reciprocity". .
Meanwhile, some experts believe that the ban "reciprocity" without strict regulations is a ban on failure. Samm Sacks, a member of the organization New America, questioned whether citizens' privacy would be more secure if the US adopted a "Great Firewall" similar to China.