China’s Response to the TikTok Controversy in Washington

China has seen TikTok frenzy in Washington before with the 2020 Trump executive order blocked by Beijing and Montana’s TikTok ban blocked by a federal judge.

US lawmakers passed a bill forcing ByteDance to sell TikTok or face a US ban, but China has not retaliated yet; experts cite uncertainty in the Senate and Trump’s opposing view as reasons for China’s restraint.

TikTok, popular among younger Americans, has a significant global user base. Concerns about CCP influence and data access persist in Washington.

Despite efforts to address security concerns, there is still distrust between TikTok and Washington. If a sale is forced, China could block it due to export controls on sensitive technology.

In China, selling TikTok’s algorithm to a foreign company is unlikely. Chinese media criticizes US double standards in protecting freedom of speech and stirs outrage over the treatment of Chinese companies.

Chinese social media users mobilize against the House bill, viewing it as theft and a threat to free-market competition for Chinese-owned tech companies.

China’s foreign ministry spokesperson was noncommittal on the TikTok issue, highlighting the ongoing tensions between Beijing and Washington over the popular app.

Olivia Wang contributed research from Hong Kong.

News

Unlikely Industry Player Anguilla Profits Big from A.I. Boom

Artificial intelligence’s integration into everyday life has stirred up doubts and unsettling questions for many about humanity’s path forward. But in Anguilla, a tiny Caribbean island to the east of Puerto Rico, the A.I. boom has made the country a fortune. The British territory collects a fee from every registration for internet addresses that end […]

Read More
News

China Surpasses U.S. in A.I. Talent: A Key Metric

China lags behind the United States in artificial intelligence that powers chatbots like ChatGPT but excels in producing scientists behind new humanoid technologies. New research reveals that China has surpassed the United States as the biggest producer of A.I. talent. The country generates almost half the world’s top A.I. researchers, compared to 18 percent from […]

Read More
News

Brands Brace for Impact as TikTok Faces Criticism

Amid debate in Washington over whether TikTok should be banned if its Chinese owner doesn’t sell it, one group is watching with particular interest: the many brands — particularly in the beauty, skin care, fashion, and health and wellness industries — that have used the video app to boost their sales. Youthforia, a makeup brand […]

Read More