TikTok Bill, or Tartuffe on Capitol Hill

Editor's note: David Gosset, a special commentator on current affairs for CGTN, is the founder of the China-Europe-America Global Initiative. He is the editor of China and the World in three volumes, and the creator of the Inspiring Series, a collection of books that aims to introduce China to the world. The article reflects the author's opinions and not necessarily the views of CGTN.

On April 20, a bill was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives targeting TikTok – known as Douyin in China. Just over a month ago, the House approved a similar bill forcing the company to sell or to lose access to the U.S. market. This time, instead of the six-month period, TikTok was given a 270-day period to find a buyer, and the deadline could be extended by President Joe Biden for another 90 days if there's progress toward a sale. It has sparked debate over the motivations behind such legislative action.

I would like to provide a European perspective on a narrative involving the world's two largest economies. Firstly, such an action, far from signaling genuine strength, exposes weaknesses and a lack of confidence. Secondly, I would describe this particular episode as hypocritical, reminiscent of Tartuffe, Molière's comedic play, wherein virtues are feigned while far less noble motives actually drive the action.

The widespread popularity of TikTok worldwide can largely be attributed to the quality of the application itself. The larger context is well known: Released only eight years ago, available in 75 languages, TikTok has over 170 million users in the U.S. alone. Out of 5.3 billion Internet users worldwide, 23 percent use TikTok. The meteoric rise of TikTok to global prominence cannot be attributed to a calculated Chinese strategy aimed at world domination. Instead, its success is fundamentally rooted in its adept navigation of the technological and business landscapes, set against the backdrop of a world increasingly interconnected through cyberspace. Another success of ByteDance, the company founded by Zhang Yiming in 2012 and that owns TikTok, is the news aggregator Toutiao – Headlines in English – which has effectively harnessed technology to offer readers a personalized news reading experience.

The rejection of TikTok by U.S. lawmakers stands in stark contrast to the enthusiastic embrace it receives from American consumers. TikTok's success can be attributed to a multitude of factors, foremost among them being its innovative approach to content creation and dissemination. By capitalizing on the short-form video format, from 15 seconds to 10 minutes, TikTok tapped into a burgeoning trend of bite-sized entertainment perfectly suited to the attention spans of today's digital consumers. Its algorithmic prowess in curating personalized feeds further enhances user engagement.

Moreover, TikTok's success is intricately tied to its savvy business strategies, which transcend national borders. It has to be noted that its CEO since 2021 is Shou Zi Chew born in Singapore and who was educated at University College London and Harvard University. The platform leverages user data and advertising revenue streams to fuel its expansion into new markets, demonstrating a keen understanding of the globalized digital economy. This entrepreneurial acumen has propelled TikTok to the forefront of social media platforms, transcending geopolitical boundaries in its quest for market dominance.

Rather than relying on political maneuvering, the U.S. should focus on fostering an environment conducive to the development of competing apps that can rival and even surpass foreign counterparts. After TikTok, would the U.S. target the China-founded fashion company Shein? The public should know that the previous version of the bill passed in March by the House of Representatives is called the "Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act." It could, therefore, target other tech companies.

Drawing parallels between the cases of Huawei and TikTok, it becomes apparent that whenever a non-American entity poses a threat to U.S. dominance in a particular sector, the government tends to intervene, politicize the issue, and rewrite the rules of engagement. This pattern suggests a strategic move to prevent foreign competitors from outpacing their American counterparts.

While the bill still needs to pass through the Senate and may face legal challenges, questions arise regarding the justification for forcing a company to divest. The notion of mandating an American company to take over TikTok's operations in the U.S. raises concerns about the integrity of free-market principles and highlights what I would call hypocrisy within U.S. policymaking.

The U.S. move indicates a desire to retain the economic benefits associated with TikTok while simultaneously exerting control over its operations. The international community, including both the Global South and Europe, closely observes the actions of the U.S. government. The manner in which the U.S. handles issues like technological competition and national security not only impacts its own reputation but also shapes global perceptions of its leadership and integrity.

The bill targeting TikTok passed by the U.S. House of Representatives reflects a broader trend of political interference in technological competition. Rather than demonstrating strength, such actions highlight weaknesses and hypocrisy within U.S. policymaking. Going forward, policymakers, regardless of their country of origin, should aim to uphold principles of fairness and transparency while cultivating an environment conducive to global-scale innovation and progress that benefits humanity.

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