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For some reason it's a big national security concern when Chinese companies collect data on US citizens, but when Europeans apply the same caution with American

For some reason it's a big national security concern when Chinese companies collect data on US citizens, but when Europeans apply the same caution with American companies, people across the Atlantic see it purely from a business perspective. Why is that? This isn't TikTok and what people do on their private phones. This is a foreign company that has the capability to siphon off a lot of data about business decisions, businesses connections, contracts etc.

konschubert 4y ago
> Why is that? because china is a totalitarian country and the us isn't
- cprecioso 4y ago
- Darmody 4y ago
  Not being a totalitarian country gives you the right to spy on people?
  - someweirdperson 4y ago
    Not being totalitarian implies no to spy on your people. Spying on your people implies being totalitarian. Pretty sure US agencies have more rights to spy on not-their people, e.g., Microsoft EU customer data than Microsoft US customer data.
    - buran77 4y ago
      Let's be real, no Western country is banning Chinese products or services because China is spying on their own citizens or abusing Uyghurs. That's at best the "feel good" story sold in the media to get the people's support and distract from other issues. They're banning them for 2 reasons. One is that China will abuse them to spy and get a competitive advantage over those other countries. The second is that it's hard to compete in price so local alternatives are pushed out. In the same vein the EU isn't blocking a US company from collecting data because the US is spying on its own citizens and abusing people of color. They're doing it for almost the same 2 reasons. Everyone knows (with evidence) that the US will abuse them to spy and get a competitive advantage. The second is that it's hard to compete in performance/features so local alternatives are pushed out. The only reason to see a difference here is nationalistic bias. And that's fair enough, most people aren't educated enough (not talking just academic degrees) to be capable of critical thinking when their own principles or morals are under attack. They will just go to the first easy, "feel good" explanation when they do something to others, and the opposite when others do something to them. My favorite illustration on the topic: https://pics.me.me/their-barbarous-wastes-our-blessed-homeland-our-gloaious-their-wicked-6065816.png https://pics.me.me/their-barbarous-wastes-our-blessed-homela...
      - Tainnor 4y ago
        You make it sound as if the GDPR is specifically targeted at US companies, which is not the case. It applies to domestic companies too.
- Qem 4y ago
  Tell that to Assange. Or Snowden.
- lizardactivist 4y ago
  Sir, you must have grown up in front of a TV with strictly US American programming.
- Epa095 4y ago
  From many European capitals perspective, the USA is one wrong election away from fascism.
- AnonymousPlanet 4y ago
  Imagine things would move towards every electronic document in American companies going through the servers of a European country, say in France. Do you really believe, there wouldn't be an outcry in Washington? Do you really believe, Congress would just watch? Do you really believe, US security agencies would just sit idly by? I don't. This has nothing to do with totalitarian countries. Regardless of the political system, this is about a loss of control. About industrial espionage. Ask anyone who's work concerns US national security how much they trust foreign democries, like for instance France.
- BlueTemplar 4y ago
  From the point of view of the EU it is, since it violates basic (EU) rights of (at least) non-US citizens since 2001 : https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=33751805#33757090 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=33751805#33757090

konschubert 4y ago

> Why is that? because china is a totalitarian country and the us isn't

cprecioso 4y ago
Darmody 4y ago
Not being a totalitarian country gives you the right to spy on people?
- someweirdperson 4y ago
  Not being totalitarian implies no to spy on your people. Spying on your people implies being totalitarian. Pretty sure US agencies have more rights to spy on not-their people, e.g., Microsoft EU customer data than Microsoft US customer data.
  - buran77 4y ago
    Let's be real, no Western country is banning Chinese products or services because China is spying on their own citizens or abusing Uyghurs. That's at best the "feel good" story sold in the media to get the people's support and distract from other issues. They're banning them for 2 reasons. One is that China will abuse them to spy and get a competitive advantage over those other countries. The second is that it's hard to compete in price so local alternatives are pushed out. In the same vein the EU isn't blocking a US company from collecting data because the US is spying on its own citizens and abusing people of color. They're doing it for almost the same 2 reasons. Everyone knows (with evidence) that the US will abuse them to spy and get a competitive advantage. The second is that it's hard to compete in performance/features so local alternatives are pushed out. The only reason to see a difference here is nationalistic bias. And that's fair enough, most people aren't educated enough (not talking just academic degrees) to be capable of critical thinking when their own principles or morals are under attack. They will just go to the first easy, "feel good" explanation when they do something to others, and the opposite when others do something to them. My favorite illustration on the topic: https://pics.me.me/their-barbarous-wastes-our-blessed-homeland-our-gloaious-their-wicked-6065816.png https://pics.me.me/their-barbarous-wastes-our-blessed-homela...
    - Tainnor 4y ago
      You make it sound as if the GDPR is specifically targeted at US companies, which is not the case. It applies to domestic companies too.
Qem 4y ago
Tell that to Assange. Or Snowden.
lizardactivist 4y ago
Sir, you must have grown up in front of a TV with strictly US American programming.
Epa095 4y ago
From many European capitals perspective, the USA is one wrong election away from fascism.
AnonymousPlanet 4y ago
Imagine things would move towards every electronic document in American companies going through the servers of a European country, say in France. Do you really believe, there wouldn't be an outcry in Washington? Do you really believe, Congress would just watch? Do you really believe, US security agencies would just sit idly by? I don't. This has nothing to do with totalitarian countries. Regardless of the political system, this is about a loss of control. About industrial espionage. Ask anyone who's work concerns US national security how much they trust foreign democries, like for instance France.
BlueTemplar 4y ago
From the point of view of the EU it is, since it violates basic (EU) rights of (at least) non-US citizens since 2001 : https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=33751805#33757090 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=33751805#33757090