Today we're looking at this article on foreignpolicy.com:

https://foreignpolicy.com/2025/01/24/what-china-got-right-about-big-tech/

The article contrasts China's and the United States' approaches to regulating Big Tech under Xi Jinping and Donald Trump, respectively. China, under Xi, actively curbed the power of tech giants like Jack Ma's Alibaba to prevent them from undermining the Communist Party's authority.

Conversely, the Trump administration embraced and empowered wealthy tech leaders, fostering close ties between the government and the private sector, potentially creating conflicts of interest.

This comparison highlights differing philosophies regarding the relationship between government and Big Tech, and their potential impacts on political systems. The article suggests that China's approach, while authoritarian, demonstrates a pragmatic understanding of the potential for tech companies to seize political power, while the US approach under Trump shows a concerning lack of such foresight. The article further explores the implications of these differing approaches on a global scale.

#china #deepseek #artificialintelligence

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Different approaches to regulating big tech can significantly impact national politics, as seen in the contrasting examples of China and the United States.

China:

• Control and Prevention of an Independent Private Sector: The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has a long-standing goal of preventing the emergence of a fully independent private sector.

• Strategic Decision to Limit Tech Sector Influence: Chinese leaders made a strategic decision to not allow the private technology sector to gain a dominant role, ensuring it would not overshadow the party and state.

• Actions Against Tech Titans: The CCP took action against tech giants, such as canceling the IPO of Jack Ma's Ant Group, levying anti-monopoly measures, and subjecting Ma to hostile questioning. This demonstrates the government's willingness to control and regulate the tech sector.

• Concentration of Power: Xi Jinping's actions against tech leaders are also seen as part of his effort to concentrate power and prevent rivals in public attention.

• Motivation: China's approach is motivated by a desire to prevent new forces of wealth, data, and information from hijacking the political system and leading the country into dangerous territory.

United States:

• Celebration of Wealth and Tech Titans: The new Trump administration celebrates wealth and embraces the big tech sector.

• Close Ties Between Government and Tech: There is a close partnership between the Trump administration and tech leaders, with billionaires and tech executives playing a central role in the government.

• Deregulation and Tech Self-Regulation: The new White House seems inclined to let tech giants operate with minimal regulation, a contrast to the previous administration.

• Influence of Tech Leaders in Government: Individuals like Elon Musk have been given official positions in the government, like heading the Department of Government Efficiency, blurring the lines between business and the state.

• Potential Conflicts of Interest: There are concerns that tech leaders will profit from access to government data and the use of tech tools while working for the Trump administration.

• Risk of State Capture: The close ties between tech and government in the US, if unchecked, might lead to a situation where the state is captured by big tech.

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