Donald Trump was elected with a mandate to make deals and “drain the swamp.” I had my doubts he could make a difference in the geopolitical realm. But even on economic matters, he has not had a lot of success. His Tiktok saga reveals just how far he has left people down. [This article is cross posted at the Saker; a short, abridged version of this article was … [Read more...] about Tiktok – How Trump Failed America
Internet Freedom
It is Time for the World to Demand a Cleaner, more Accountable Internet
[An edited version of this article first appeared at the South China Morning Post.] With much pomp and circumstances, the U.S. has proposed to the world a brand new beginning, a shiny new age: a Clean Global Internet. The new enemy is China, which must be purged from the new rebuilt Internet. According to Secretary of State Pompeo, "The Clean Network addresses the … [Read more...] about It is Time for the World to Demand a Cleaner, more Accountable Internet
Privacy, National Security, Human Rights, Social Value, Whatever – It’s Whatever the West Says
The Economist today had an article on a case involving Microsoft's alleged refusal to turn over documents stored on a foreign server to FBI. The article can be found here (archived here). According to the Economist: SUPPOSE FBI agents were to break into the postbox of an American company in Dublin to seize letters which might help them convict an international drug dealer. … [Read more...] about Privacy, National Security, Human Rights, Social Value, Whatever – It’s Whatever the West Says
Chinese Government Tightens Constraints on Press Freedom
Oh no ... the Chinese government is at it again. The New York Times is running on its front page today an article with the ominous title "Chinese Government Tightens Constraints on Press Freedom." Here is the full text of the article. HONG KONG — China introduced new restrictions on what the government has called “critical” news articles and barred Chinese journalists from … [Read more...] about Chinese Government Tightens Constraints on Press Freedom
Wen Jiabao Urges Political Reform and Praises Internet Criticism of Government
The Fifth Session of the 11th National People's Congress (NPC) has just ended. Here are two stories about Wen that I found interesting. I have no personal insights beyond what is reported, but I thought it is helpful to bring attention to such stories to balance the distorted view in the West that the Chinese government somehow has in its DNA a fear of criticisms and a … [Read more...] about Wen Jiabao Urges Political Reform and Praises Internet Criticism of Government