TikTok cannot be considered a private company, says Australian report
(2023/03/20)
- Reference: 1679268609
- News link: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2023/03/19/asia_tech_news_roundup/
- Source link:
Asia In Brief ByteDance, the Chinese developer of TikTok, "can no longer be accurately described as a private enterprise" and is instead intertwined with China's government, according to a [1]report [PDF] submitted to Australia's Select Committee on Foreign Interference through Social Media.
The report, by a quartet of researchers, was [2]hailed as "the most comprehensive exploration yet of the CCP's ties to TikTok" by Brendan Carr, commissioner of the United States' Federal Communications Commission. India's IT minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar retweeted Carr's remarks.
The report alleges that China's government noticed as Douyin – the Chinese version of TikTok – boomed. Beijing then commenced a campaign employing its "legal and extra-legal mechanisms for influencing, coercing and controlling China's nominally privately-owned technology companies."
[3]
ByteDance has since become a publisher of state propaganda and built surveillance and analytics capabilities that make both Douyin and TikTok a tool China could use to profile individuals. In the words of the report's authors, this leaves ByteDance as "a 'hybrid' state-private entity."
[4]
[5]
The report also suggests Oracle's hosting of TikTok outside China does not reduce China's capacity to exercise control over TikTok. The short video app is renting bare metal servers and controls all aspects of their operation.
Japan lifts tech trade restrictions on South Korea
Japan has lifted trade restrictions it imposed 2018 after South Korean courts required Japanese businesses to make reparations for their use of forced labor during World War II.
While those decisions were not binding, Japan was sufficiently offended by them to remove South Korea from its list of preferential trading partners – a decision that slowed the flow of chemicals needed to manufacture semiconductors.
South Korea's government recently [6]announced it would establish a reparations fund of its own.
[7]
That's gone down very badly at home, but Japan welcomed the move. It led to a hastily-convened summit meeting between South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol and Japan's prime minster Fumio Kishida. One outcome from the summit was returning South Korea to Japan's list of priority trading partners. That will make South Korea's giant chipmakers Samsung and SK hynix happy at the very least.
The US also hailed the rapprochement, as it will mean its two main allies in Asia enjoy closer ties as all consider a more belligerent China.
APAC security spend to surge
Spending on infosec hardware, software, and services is set to jump 16.7 percent year-on-year in 2023, according to analyst firm IDC.
"With looming economic uncertainty and geopolitical instability, it would be natural for Asia/Pacific organizations to turtle-up on their security spending. Yet, IDC still sees increased security budgets and growth over the next few years to address the more prevalent sophisticated attacks and constantly metamorphosizing threat landscape. Security and business leaders must work together to continuously justify their security spending," [8]said Christian Fam, research manager, Security Services, IDC Asia/Pacific.
IDC predicted regional security spend of $36 billion in 2023 and predicted "investments will remain resilient in 2023 and the forecasted years despite the economic slowdown and uncertainty risks."
[9]
The analyst outfit added its view that spending on security-related products and services will grow at a five-year CAGR of 15.4 percent from 2021 to 2026 and reach $55 billion by 2026.
"Key drivers behind this growth are rise in cyber attacks, digital transformation initiatives, and continued hybrid workforce trends."
Philippine SIM registration drive stutters
The Philippines' drive to register all SIM cards in the country is not producing the desired result of a decline in SMS spams and scam.
The nation set a deadline of April 26 for the 165 million-plus SIMs to be registered by their users. But local media on Sunday [10]reported an extension may be needed as only 25 percent had been registered and scams remain rampant.
[11]Infosys president leaves to join rival Tech Mahindra as CEO
[12]China accelerates drive for scientific self-sufficiency
[13]Infosys founder slams working from home, side hustles, as slowing India's growth
[14]Toshiba COO dumped over entertainment expenses scandal
Vietnam's cyber security sector surges
Vietnamese media [15]report sharp growth in revenue for the nation's cyber security sector.
"The sector posted revenue of 252.8 billion VND ($10.6 million) during the period – an increase of 33.5 percent year-on-year, resulting in a growth of 33.1 percent to 20.22 billion VND," according to Vietnam+ .
Vietnam is trying to grow its tech services sector, to nourish local businesses and to create export income.
In other news
Our regional coverage last week included plenty of news from China, where [16]Baidu launched its ERNIE chatbot, a [17]strange electric truck hit the road, and authorities were [18]cracking down on social media. Again.
We also looked at [19]the fugitive Chinese billionaire arrested in the US over a cryptocurrency scam.
[20]Japan's post office edged closer to delivering letters by drone.
[21]Samsung revealed plans to spend $230 billion on five new fabs.
India [22]floated the idea of a tribunal dedicated to online offences.
Micronesia is not a nation we cover often, but when its outgoing president [23]accused China of trying to tap its submarine cables and of widespread spying, we couldn't resist! ®
Get our [24]Tech Resources
[1] https://t.co/ROPtMMud89
[2] https://twitter.com/BrendanCarrFCC/status/1636773917670137856
[3] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_security/front&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=2&c=2ZBfob6nwE18@dZVEur5WBQAAANM&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0
[4] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_security/front&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44ZBfob6nwE18@dZVEur5WBQAAANM&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[5] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_security/front&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33ZBfob6nwE18@dZVEur5WBQAAANM&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[6] https://www.theregister.com/2023/03/07/japan_south_korea_trade_relations/
[7] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_security/front&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44ZBfob6nwE18@dZVEur5WBQAAANM&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[8] https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=prAP50495823
[9] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_security/front&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33ZBfob6nwE18@dZVEur5WBQAAANM&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[10] http://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2023/3/19/poe-text-scams-rampant-sim-registration.html
[11] https://www.theregister.com/2023/03/12/asia_tech_news_roundup/
[12] https://www.theregister.com/2023/03/06/asia_tech_news_roundup/
[13] https://www.theregister.com/2023/02/27/asia_tech_news_roundup/
[14] https://www.theregister.com/2023/02/19/asia_tech_news_roundup/
[15] https://en.vietnamplus.vn/revenue-from-cybersecurity-sector-up-33-in-q1/249932.vnp
[16] https://www.theregister.com/2023/03/16/baidu_ernie_chatbot_launch/
[17] https://www.theregister.com/2023/03/15/china_half_truck_half_tram/
[18] https://www.theregister.com/2023/03/13/chinas_another_social_media_crackdown/
[19] https://www.theregister.com/2023/03/17/miles_guo_charged/
[20] https://www.theregister.com/2023/03/14/japan_post_wing_drones/
[21] https://www.theregister.com/2023/03/15/samsung_230b_chip_plants/
[22] https://www.theregister.com/2023/03/13/consultation_for_digital_india_act/
[23] https://www.theregister.com/2023/03/15/bribery_espionage_and_hostile_takeovers/
[24] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
The report, by a quartet of researchers, was [2]hailed as "the most comprehensive exploration yet of the CCP's ties to TikTok" by Brendan Carr, commissioner of the United States' Federal Communications Commission. India's IT minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar retweeted Carr's remarks.
The report alleges that China's government noticed as Douyin – the Chinese version of TikTok – boomed. Beijing then commenced a campaign employing its "legal and extra-legal mechanisms for influencing, coercing and controlling China's nominally privately-owned technology companies."
[3]
ByteDance has since become a publisher of state propaganda and built surveillance and analytics capabilities that make both Douyin and TikTok a tool China could use to profile individuals. In the words of the report's authors, this leaves ByteDance as "a 'hybrid' state-private entity."
[4]
[5]
The report also suggests Oracle's hosting of TikTok outside China does not reduce China's capacity to exercise control over TikTok. The short video app is renting bare metal servers and controls all aspects of their operation.
Japan lifts tech trade restrictions on South Korea
Japan has lifted trade restrictions it imposed 2018 after South Korean courts required Japanese businesses to make reparations for their use of forced labor during World War II.
While those decisions were not binding, Japan was sufficiently offended by them to remove South Korea from its list of preferential trading partners – a decision that slowed the flow of chemicals needed to manufacture semiconductors.
South Korea's government recently [6]announced it would establish a reparations fund of its own.
[7]
That's gone down very badly at home, but Japan welcomed the move. It led to a hastily-convened summit meeting between South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol and Japan's prime minster Fumio Kishida. One outcome from the summit was returning South Korea to Japan's list of priority trading partners. That will make South Korea's giant chipmakers Samsung and SK hynix happy at the very least.
The US also hailed the rapprochement, as it will mean its two main allies in Asia enjoy closer ties as all consider a more belligerent China.
APAC security spend to surge
Spending on infosec hardware, software, and services is set to jump 16.7 percent year-on-year in 2023, according to analyst firm IDC.
"With looming economic uncertainty and geopolitical instability, it would be natural for Asia/Pacific organizations to turtle-up on their security spending. Yet, IDC still sees increased security budgets and growth over the next few years to address the more prevalent sophisticated attacks and constantly metamorphosizing threat landscape. Security and business leaders must work together to continuously justify their security spending," [8]said Christian Fam, research manager, Security Services, IDC Asia/Pacific.
IDC predicted regional security spend of $36 billion in 2023 and predicted "investments will remain resilient in 2023 and the forecasted years despite the economic slowdown and uncertainty risks."
[9]
The analyst outfit added its view that spending on security-related products and services will grow at a five-year CAGR of 15.4 percent from 2021 to 2026 and reach $55 billion by 2026.
"Key drivers behind this growth are rise in cyber attacks, digital transformation initiatives, and continued hybrid workforce trends."
Philippine SIM registration drive stutters
The Philippines' drive to register all SIM cards in the country is not producing the desired result of a decline in SMS spams and scam.
The nation set a deadline of April 26 for the 165 million-plus SIMs to be registered by their users. But local media on Sunday [10]reported an extension may be needed as only 25 percent had been registered and scams remain rampant.
[11]Infosys president leaves to join rival Tech Mahindra as CEO
[12]China accelerates drive for scientific self-sufficiency
[13]Infosys founder slams working from home, side hustles, as slowing India's growth
[14]Toshiba COO dumped over entertainment expenses scandal
Vietnam's cyber security sector surges
Vietnamese media [15]report sharp growth in revenue for the nation's cyber security sector.
"The sector posted revenue of 252.8 billion VND ($10.6 million) during the period – an increase of 33.5 percent year-on-year, resulting in a growth of 33.1 percent to 20.22 billion VND," according to Vietnam+ .
Vietnam is trying to grow its tech services sector, to nourish local businesses and to create export income.
In other news
Our regional coverage last week included plenty of news from China, where [16]Baidu launched its ERNIE chatbot, a [17]strange electric truck hit the road, and authorities were [18]cracking down on social media. Again.
We also looked at [19]the fugitive Chinese billionaire arrested in the US over a cryptocurrency scam.
[20]Japan's post office edged closer to delivering letters by drone.
[21]Samsung revealed plans to spend $230 billion on five new fabs.
India [22]floated the idea of a tribunal dedicated to online offences.
Micronesia is not a nation we cover often, but when its outgoing president [23]accused China of trying to tap its submarine cables and of widespread spying, we couldn't resist! ®
Get our [24]Tech Resources
[1] https://t.co/ROPtMMud89
[2] https://twitter.com/BrendanCarrFCC/status/1636773917670137856
[3] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_security/front&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=2&c=2ZBfob6nwE18@dZVEur5WBQAAANM&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0
[4] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_security/front&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44ZBfob6nwE18@dZVEur5WBQAAANM&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[5] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_security/front&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33ZBfob6nwE18@dZVEur5WBQAAANM&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[6] https://www.theregister.com/2023/03/07/japan_south_korea_trade_relations/
[7] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_security/front&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44ZBfob6nwE18@dZVEur5WBQAAANM&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[8] https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=prAP50495823
[9] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_security/front&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33ZBfob6nwE18@dZVEur5WBQAAANM&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[10] http://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2023/3/19/poe-text-scams-rampant-sim-registration.html
[11] https://www.theregister.com/2023/03/12/asia_tech_news_roundup/
[12] https://www.theregister.com/2023/03/06/asia_tech_news_roundup/
[13] https://www.theregister.com/2023/02/27/asia_tech_news_roundup/
[14] https://www.theregister.com/2023/02/19/asia_tech_news_roundup/
[15] https://en.vietnamplus.vn/revenue-from-cybersecurity-sector-up-33-in-q1/249932.vnp
[16] https://www.theregister.com/2023/03/16/baidu_ernie_chatbot_launch/
[17] https://www.theregister.com/2023/03/15/china_half_truck_half_tram/
[18] https://www.theregister.com/2023/03/13/chinas_another_social_media_crackdown/
[19] https://www.theregister.com/2023/03/17/miles_guo_charged/
[20] https://www.theregister.com/2023/03/14/japan_post_wing_drones/
[21] https://www.theregister.com/2023/03/15/samsung_230b_chip_plants/
[22] https://www.theregister.com/2023/03/13/consultation_for_digital_india_act/
[23] https://www.theregister.com/2023/03/15/bribery_espionage_and_hostile_takeovers/
[24] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
cyberdemon
What Australia have said rings true IMO, although it ignores some uncomfortable truths about Microsoft, Google, Apple, Amazon, Intel, "Meta" etc. who are all very much in the lap of US three-letter-agencies.
It seems that big tech companies have become weapons for the Powers that Be, in a war that is raging on in the upper echelons of society, out of sight of the rest of us. There's bugger all you can really know, let alone do do about it unless you're in the Billionaire's club and/or a high-ranked member of a corporate/governmental cult.
Gene Cash
How much are you paid for these posts, bro?
sarusa
You couldn't have more of a boilerplate 'here go post this statement from your fellow teens' if you tried. Perhaps you should add some references to running dogs?
Anonymous Coward
Keep earning that 50 cents
Every Chinese company of sufficient size is a state company
sarusa
By law, every business in China is owned by the CCP and 'allowed', with varying degrees of freedom, to operate for its benefit. Otherwise you'd just have greedy, grasping, cutthroat capitalism that oppresses the proletariat and makes poison milk and that would be terrible! What varies is how much direct oversight there is. All medium to large companies have a cell of the CCP in them, which may or may not be explicitly labeled. Often, management is also CCP, so the lines might be quite blurry. If the company is small enough they might not even bother, but just because it's not worth their time, not because they don't own you.
Obviously, something as integrated into everyday Chinese life as Tik Tok is going to have strong oversight. Ditto for TenCent.
Certainly in all countries you have companies that are the govt's eager bitches (AT&T, Boeing ,etc. in America), but in Xi's China it's not even a choice.
Australia is the USA's lapdog, and so often now is yapping at China, to appease their USA masters.
pathetic and obvious really.