China Says EU TikTok Ban Will Harm Business Confidence (apnews.com) 43
China says a ban on the use of TikTok by official European Union institutions will harm business confidence in Europe. From a report: In the latest salvo in the battle over the Chinese-owned video sharing app, the European Parliament, the European Commission and the EU Council have banned TikTok from being installed on official devices. [...] China has been pushing back, though its ruling Communist Party has long blocked many foreign social media platforms and messaging apps, including YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram -- and TikTok. A Chinese version of the app, Douyin, is permitted, but its content is not the same as that found on TikTok. "The EU claims to be the most open market in the world, but recently it has been taking restrictive measures and unreasonably suppressing other countries' companies on the grounds of national security," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said at a daily briefing Wednesday. "This will dampen the international community's confidence in the business environment in the EU. The EU should match its words with deeds, respect the market economy and fair competition, stop overstretching and abusing the concept of national security and provide an open, fair, transparent and non-discriminatory business environment for all companies," Mao said.
Re: (Score:5, Insightful)
Re: (Score:1)
Re: (Score:2)
Of course they're right. How can they possibly trust a business they can't spy on?
Re: (Score:2)
There's a massive difference between completing block a product for all citizens, which China does frequently, to banning it from government devices. The hypocrisy of China here is astounding.
National security often has restrictions. Why are China getting so worked up about something this time? You could argue that TikTok has no place in a work environment anyway, unless perhaps you're using it for marketing.
Talk about a storm in teacup.
Re: (Score:3)
Really? You think a country that regularly bans foreign social media applications on national security grounds is right in complaining that others are doing the same but to their apps?
"Think". You keep using that word but it does not mean what you think it means.
Narrative (Score:5, Interesting)
This is very much in line with the narrative that China has been using to sell itself as a good place to invest and do business with. China's government is stable, it doesn't change every few years when a new one is elected.
Thing is, the CCP does make rule changes rather suddenly sometimes. Things like the limit on time children can spend playing games, or sudden changes to games with gambling features (loot boxes). So it's a bit rich saying that the EU doing this will harm business confidence. I mean they are right, it will, but it's not like China is doing any better in that regard.
Re:Narrative (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Narrative (Score:4, Insightful)
I am living in Germany and I talked to some Germans about this. So far every single one of them has asked what kind of person installed tiktok on their government issued device? Of course that should not be allowed. You should not have any of these social media apps on your government issued device unless it is required for your job. This just seems like basic sanity to me.
Most companies I have seen have the same kinds of policies. Don't install stuff like this on your company devices. If you install it on your personal device that is fine but not the company one.
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Most reporting on this is getting it wrong, even though the EU Commission has been quite clear in their notice.
They are not blocking it from official devices, but from personal devices enrolled in a BYOD system. If not uninstalled, the devices will be kicked out of the system and that it is all.
Nobody was able to install anything by himself on any work-issued devices anyway, the installs are centrally managed by the IT service and they would have to have a reason to get a specific app installed. Those insta
Re: (Score:3)
This is very much in line with the narrative that China has been using to sell itself as a good place to invest and do business with. China's government is stable, it doesn't change every few years when a new one is elected.
Thing is, the CCP does make rule changes rather suddenly sometimes.
Tell that to Jack Ma. If that doesn't scare Western corporations, then they really are just gambling with short-term stock bonuses. Western (and Chinese) companies stay alive in China at the pleasure of Mr. Xi, but that sentiment can change literally in a matter of days and in ways that threaten survival. Of course, Europe also gambled with Russian natural gas and learned their lesson the hard way. It's really hard to wean off the addiction to a short-term view of money.
Re: (Score:2)
China's government is stable, it doesn't change every few years when a new one is elected.
"Stable" is one way to describe that phenomenon, I suppose. I've got a different term in mind.
Of course, I agree that China is certainly a pot calling a kettle black in this case. Given the extremely protectionist nature of their own markets, they have absolutely no cause for complaining about whatever restrictions other countries use to block access to their own products. They've not been making good on any sort of reciprocal trade agreements... well... ever, really.
I'm not sure where this is going to e
Leadership at work! (Score:5, Interesting)
The screeching coming out of China on this one is funny.
"This will dampen the international community's confidence in the business environment in the EU. The EU should match its words with deeds, respect the market economy and fair competition, stop overstretching and abusing the concept of national security and provide an open, fair, transparent and non-discriminatory business environment for all companies," Mao said.
China should LEAD BY EXAMPLE.
Re: (Score:3)
So Transparent (Score:2)
Yeah I agree, it will harm the free and open Chinese market. Come on.
Tik Tok harms privacy confidence (Score:2)
The issue is the close link between companies and government in China (I wouldn't use the word "private" to describe any Chinese company).
In the US we give up pretty much everything to private companies (I wish it were legislated otherwise), but they don't have the same direct type link to the government as Tik Tok (subpoenas and such needed - usually - see Snowden...).
China is concerned that... (Score:2)
... restrictions placed on market environments by government will negatively affect world sentiment?
Wow.
Tiresome hypocrisy (Score:3, Insightful)
"its ruling Communist Party has long blocked many foreign social media platforms and messaging apps, including YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram -- and TikTok", they do this because they can't control the content. And yet they have the gall to whine when someone else blocks an app for obvious security reasons.
This fools nobody. China continues to push their own international image into the mud.
open, fair, transparent and non-discriminatory... (Score:2)
"and provide an open, fair, transparent and non-discriminatory business environment for all companies,"
Right, right. Well, that's a laudible goal, but coming from a Chinese official, it's also a tad offensive. Do as I say, not as I do, eh? Not going to happen.
Ironic (Score:2)
Different content on Douyin (Score:3)
DW had a guest on yesterday explaining the difference in the content that the Chinese version of the app (Douyin) pushes, vs. what the export version Tiktok pushes.
The Chinese version has kids playing the piano and violin, and kids who want to be astronauts. The export version has the normal social media BS. Hopefully, at this point, no further explanation is needed as to how that will skew perceptions and rot societies.
He also explains how businesses in the US have invested billions into TikTok, and have an interest in keeping it available. That message aligns well with China's message to the EU today. "You need to keep TikTok, because business."
The whole interview is good, if you want to watch it:
https://youtu.be/CFyP4Vfr2Oc?t... [youtu.be]
Re: (Score:2)
I'm sure they can find some justification. This is Cold War II, the politicians will have beaucoup staff investigating exactly how to set up the new iron curtain. Even the Democrats are on board now, with Biden's dickwaving shooting down every balloon and frisbee in sight.
They're fine with trash, it just can't be foreign trash.
We're playing the wrong game (Score:2)
China plays Go while we play chess and not even 3D chess. China uses our own delusions against us all the while gobbling up assets right under our noses.
Imprisoning executives harms business confidence (Score:5, Insightful)
Imprisoning and re-educating executives also harms business confidence, which is why they are starting to leave China.
Using tiktok (Score:2)
Just government devices (Score:2)
Wasnâ(TM)t this policy limited to government devices? Itâ(TM)s good they are doing this, though Iâ(TM)d go further and block any app that does tracking on government devices.
While I do want more privacy for myself, anything that gives leverage to another country on our policy makers isnâ(TM)t good. For this reason prioritising blocking foreign tracking here is more critical.
Hey china (Score:2)
This will help business confidence! (Score:2)
And then we can offer a trade (Score:2)
We'll unban TikTok if the Chinese unban/stop filtering Google or chatGPT.
China doesn't have a working legal system (Score:2)
There is no such thing as "business confidence" in China. Have a problem with a Chinese supplier or government agency? Good luck... Have you or your company spent many years and large sums of money developing a new technology? The only way to protect your IP is to keep it out of China and away from Chinese thieves infiltrating your company.
A goose, a gander, something something... (Score:2)
... The EU should match its words with deeds, respect the market economy and fair competition, stop overstretching and abusing the concept of national security and provide an open, fair, transparent and non-discriminatory business environment for all companies," Mao said.
You first.
Couldn't be a better confirmation. (Score:2)
China says a ban on the use of TikTok by official European Union institutions will harm business confidence in Europe.
If this is the answer then it's pretty clear tiktok is being used as a spy service.
The sooner we ban it the better.