7 ms·

Maybe, but isn’t part of the problem contextual? Multiple US corporations have manipulated their content based on sensitivities that are promoted from specifica

Maybe, but isn’t part of the problem contextual? Multiple US corporations have manipulated their content based on sensitivities that are promoted from specifically the CCP and not based on moral outlook of their population. It seems to me that’s a clear indicator of over bearing authoritarian control. Baring any value statements about political systems, isn’t there a political problem with a foreign entity controlling the content of another; particularly when an adversarial relationship exists?

JumpCrisscross 3y ago
> isn’t there a political problem with a foreign entity controlling the content of another We restrict foreign ownership of media properties to 25 percent (without review) [1]. Expanding that rule to social media would make sense. Beijing requires TikTok run itself differently within China, after all [2]. That’s the difference in care that matters. (Facebook’s lack of care in Myanmar comes to mind as analogous [3].) [1] https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2013/11/14/the-next-rupert-murdoch-wont-have-to-change-his-citizenship-to-rule-the-tv-biz/ https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2013/11/14... [2] https://www.cnn.com/2023/03/24/tech/tiktok-douyin-bytedance-china-intl-hnk/index.html https://www.cnn.com/2023/03/24/tech/tiktok-douyin-bytedance-... [3] https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/15/technology/myanmar-facebook-genocide.html https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/15/technology/myanmar-facebo...
- Kadin 3y ago
  Expanding the foreign ownership rule to include social media platform companies (and, frankly, any strategically-important technology company in general) seems like a no-brainer. Other countries should logically do the same. If Burma/Myanmar doesn't like what Facebook is doing there, they have demonstrated the capability to shut it down on multiple occasions. Setting aside that their government is a basically-illegitimate military junta, if I was them, I sure as fuck wouldn't let a US tech company operate within my country without a significant local presence that I could exert influence on.
bugglebeetle 3y ago
> Baring any value statements about political systems, isn’t there a political problem with a foreign entity controlling the content of another No, in fact, many international newspapers, particularly those in Europe, report more honestly on the US than outlets like the New York Times or Washington Post. El Pais has far more integrity than either of those and it’s owned by a Spanish media conglomerate.
- JumpCrisscross 3y ago
  > many international newspapers, particularly those in Europe, report more honestly on the US than outlets like the New York Times or Washington Post Yes and no. They report with different biases. It’s interesting to read. But they sometimes make comically elementary errors regarding our politics.
  - bugglebeetle 3y ago
    > But they sometimes make comically elementary errors regarding our politics. I would describe the political coverage of both of the US papers I mentioned in much the same terms.
    - JumpCrisscross 3y ago
      > would describe the political coverage of both of the US papers I mentioned in much the same terms I wouldn’t. Most plainly, because they’re read (and responded to) by policymakers.
      - bugglebeetle 3y ago
        That’s more indicative of their relationship to power (largely subservient) than anything to do with the accuracy of their reporting or integrity.
        JumpCrisscross 3y ago
        > more indicative of their relationship to power (largely subservient) What are you basing this on? From the people I know in federal and state government, this is totally backwards. > than anything to do with the accuracy of their reporting or integrity Sure, whatever. The point is is there signal in the noise. And for those publications, there is. In part because they create the signal. That said, they’re written for decision makers and the civically and commercially engaged. For casual readers, a less-frequent and more-entertaining format is probably a better fit.

JumpCrisscross 3y ago

> isn’t there a political problem with a foreign entity controlling the content of another We restrict foreign ownership of media properties to 25 percent (without review) [1]. Expanding that rule to social media would make sense. Beijing requires TikTok run itself differently within China, after all [2]. That’s the difference in care that matters. (Facebook’s lack of care in Myanmar comes to mind as analogous [3].) [1] https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2013/11/14/the-next-rupert-murdoch-wont-have-to-change-his-citizenship-to-rule-the-tv-biz/ https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2013/11/14... [2] https://www.cnn.com/2023/03/24/tech/tiktok-douyin-bytedance-china-intl-hnk/index.html https://www.cnn.com/2023/03/24/tech/tiktok-douyin-bytedance-... [3] https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/15/technology/myanmar-facebook-genocide.html https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/15/technology/myanmar-facebo...

Kadin 3y ago
Expanding the foreign ownership rule to include social media platform companies (and, frankly, any strategically-important technology company in general) seems like a no-brainer. Other countries should logically do the same. If Burma/Myanmar doesn't like what Facebook is doing there, they have demonstrated the capability to shut it down on multiple occasions. Setting aside that their government is a basically-illegitimate military junta, if I was them, I sure as fuck wouldn't let a US tech company operate within my country without a significant local presence that I could exert influence on.

bugglebeetle 3y ago

> Baring any value statements about political systems, isn’t there a political problem with a foreign entity controlling the content of another No, in fact, many international newspapers, particularly those in Europe, report more honestly on the US than outlets like the New York Times or Washington Post. El Pais has far more integrity than either of those and it’s owned by a Spanish media conglomerate.

JumpCrisscross 3y ago
> many international newspapers, particularly those in Europe, report more honestly on the US than outlets like the New York Times or Washington Post Yes and no. They report with different biases. It’s interesting to read. But they sometimes make comically elementary errors regarding our politics.
- bugglebeetle 3y ago
  > But they sometimes make comically elementary errors regarding our politics. I would describe the political coverage of both of the US papers I mentioned in much the same terms.
  - JumpCrisscross 3y ago
    > would describe the political coverage of both of the US papers I mentioned in much the same terms I wouldn’t. Most plainly, because they’re read (and responded to) by policymakers.
    - bugglebeetle 3y ago
      That’s more indicative of their relationship to power (largely subservient) than anything to do with the accuracy of their reporting or integrity.
      - JumpCrisscross 3y ago
        > more indicative of their relationship to power (largely subservient) What are you basing this on? From the people I know in federal and state government, this is totally backwards. > than anything to do with the accuracy of their reporting or integrity Sure, whatever. The point is is there signal in the noise. And for those publications, there is. In part because they create the signal. That said, they’re written for decision makers and the civically and commercially engaged. For casual readers, a less-frequent and more-entertaining format is probably a better fit.