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An expert in US-China technology relations stated to The Independent that the recent bill passed by the US House of Representatives may exacerbate conflicts between the two nations and potentially lead to the removal of TikTok from American app stores.
The Act for Safeguarding American Interests from Foreign Adversary-Driven Applicants, which was passed with strong backing, is slated to move on to the US Senate. Drafted by a group of representatives from both parties, the legislation would grant federal law enforcement agencies the authority to designate specific apps as potential national security hazards if they are found to be under the influence of foreign adversaries.
If the bill becomes law, TikTok parent company ByteDance will have 180 days to sell 80 per cent of its stake to a US company or face the app being removed from American app stores. Now, an expert in US-China tech relations says the bill will only increase tensions between the two countries if it passes the US Senate and receives a signature from President Joe Biden.
According to Professor Aynne Kokas from the University of Virginia, the Chinese government could potentially respond with trade retaliation if the bill is passed.
Dr. Kokas stated that there may be an increase in aggressive language or increased trade tensions from China towards the US following the House’s successful vote. It would be surprising if China did not respond with at least some form of reciprocal trade action. The main issue is that it is uncertain what form that action will take.
Dr. Kokas, a prolific author on the subject of US-China technology and media interactions, suggested that passing a bill affecting privacy regulations for all media companies, rather than just those controlled by “foreign adversaries,” would be a more effective approach for US lawmakers.
I have long believed that it would be more beneficial to enforce laws for all companies in the US, including those operating within the country, instead of targeting specific firms,” stated Dr Kokas in an interview with The Independent. This is especially important for companies based in countries that already have difficult relationships in various sectors.
Dr. Kokas pointed out that TikTok executives have requested for comparable laws, primarily because, as she mentioned, it is highly improbable to occur.
“It’s quite concerning, but this is also a point of persuasion used by TikTok to push back against proposals to ban the app,” she stated.
Kokas stated that the idea of solely relying on that solution is a red herring, as it is not likely to occur, particularly in a post-Dobbs setting.
In 2022, Dr. Kokas mentioned the decision in Dobbs v Jackson made by the US Supreme Court, which reversed the 1973 ruling in Roe v Wade. In the previous case, the Justices determined that abortion is safeguarded by the 14th Amendment’s provision of the right to privacy in the US Constitution.
The bill faced similar critiques from certain House Democrats.
Democratic representative from Minnesota, Ilhan Omar, stated to The Independent that she is not persuaded of the need for the proposed legislation.
She stated that there was no solid proof to justify the necessity of this action in safeguarding our national security, other than the untruths circulating on social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, YouTube shorts, and Twitter. Therefore, targeting this one specific company appeared to contradict the goal of protecting our nation’s security.
On the other hand, Democratic Representative Ayanna Pressley from Massachusetts expressed her disagreement with the bill, stating that it is not the right approach.
Ms Pressley stated that instead of hastily and limitedly focusing on one company, Congress should enact all-encompassing data privacy laws that establish guidelines and controls for the collection of data by social media companies, similar to the actions taken by other countries.
The source of the text is independent.co.uk.
