A WeChat ban in the US: Was it a good or bad idea?
In response to an executive order signed by President trump on August 6, 2020, the Department of Commerce today announced a ban on transactions related to the mobile app WeChat. The ban includes any provision of Internet hosting services, or other network services, that allows the apps to function in the United States for WeChat.
In the article, “What a WeChat ban could mean for millions of U.S. users” published on September 18, 2020 in the Washington Post, writer Heather Kelly argues “Chinese security personnel also use WeChat to contact, harass and surveil dissidents and exiles, including those in the United States. “The Trump administration said WeChat collected "massive amounts of user information" that could "give the Chinese Communist Party access to personal and proprietary information about Americans." The ban is for maintaining nation security. However, Tencent spokesperson Meredith Julian defended the company’s security, saying it “has always incorporated the highest standards of user privacy and data security.”
The
ban on WeChat did inconvenience a large number of people, especially for those
who use it to stay in touch with their families or do business. WeChat is a
super app that integrates phone book, SMS service, photo album and payment
system.
For
Chinese Americans, WeChat is her way of keeping in touch with family and
old friends back home. Tali Arbe, a reporter of the Washington
Post mentioned the article “A US WeChat ban could hurt many in America, not
just China” which published on August 21,2020 that, a Chinese-American in Washington
named Sha Zhu, says since she went abroad in 2008, Zhu has been relying on
WeChat to keep in touch with them. There are also many audio and video records
from the past, which are very precious memories for her. She said WeChat was
the bridge to her hometown, and she didn't know what to do if WeChat was banned
in the United States.
It
is also a problem for American businessmen who trade with China.
The article “Ahead of WeChat ban, American business scramble to find new ways
to work with Chinese suppliers” written by Alyssa
Newcomb published on September 18, 2020 on NBC news mentioned a story about
this. “My
main form of communication with my manufacturer is through WeChat. This ban is
not a good thing for us.” said Alfred Mai, CEO
of ASM Games, which sells tabletop games
on Amazon.
The
legality of the ban is controversial. In the face of safeguarding national
security, any potential threat should be eliminated in a timely manner. In
addition, banning WeChat will not have a great impact on the majority of Americans,
but the interests of a small number of people have been damaged, especially
those whose main business is trade with China. The sudden ban has rattled
people a bit. It will hurt, but it may bump up against some opportunities. In my opinion, banning WeChat is neither absolutely good nor bad. The implementation of any policy is to correct the current problems and promote innovation. It
will take time to tell how much it will affect people.
Sources: https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2020/09/18/wechat-ban-faq/