[Air-L] best article I've read so far about Tik Tok

[Chris Leslie]

Hi Paul,

Along with the link, it would be nice to hear what you think is admirable about this article. I read it when it first came out and I didn’t care for it too much, but maybe I am missing something.

The author does not clearly analyze what the national security concerns of TikTok are, especially from a technological angle.  It takes for face value the statement that TikTok can’t be carried on US government phones without explaining the software or hardware concerns (or explaining why the current security architecture in phones is inadequate). The suggestion that sharing information and promoting Chinese businesses is a threat to US national security is an interesting ideological theory that’s not explained by the story well.

In general I’m suspicious of NYT reports about China. The editorial group often adds weird spins to even normal reporting. Jack Ma wasn’t accused of being monopolistic. In a planned economy, who is going to make this charge? Ma and ANT proposed a new business model of providing loans directly to consumers, bypassing banks. Alipay is already an important commercial payment service, but they wanted to use the money they’ve been collecting as small loans, maybe like payday loans.

The idea that ANT wanted to do this was already suspicious - they won’t vet the lendee’s ability to pay, unlike a bank - but also they planned to make all of those loans subject to the support of outside investors. The central government raised concerns about this and Ma responded by complaining about China’s economic and legal system. In other words, he used his fame to suggest that the Chinese system was backward and didn’t make his criticism in the context of reform or supporting new policies, just for his own personal interests. Not so smart - and now I guess he can go back to being a tour guide.

Can say the same for the six or seven other potted plants the article uses for window dressing.

Chris
________________________________
From: Air-L <air-l-bounces at listserv.aoir.org> on behalf of Paul Levinson via Air-L <air-l at listserv.aoir.org>
Sent: Saturday, December 24, 2022 1:44 PM
To: air-l at listserv.aoir.org <air-l at listserv.aoir.org>
Subject: [Air-L] best article I've read so far about Tik Tok

Best article by far I've read about Tik Tok -- I'm going to assign it to my
students in the upcoming Spring semester
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/20/magazine/tiktok-us-china-diplomacy.html
#TikTok @nytimes

-- PL

It's Real Life <https://vocal.media/fiction/it-s-real-life> -- free, new
alternate history short story about The Beatles & WFUV, now being made into
a radio play
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