this post was submitted on 16 Nov 2023
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Apple’s China ties under Congressional scrutiny after Jon Stewart cancellation | Lawmakers demand that Apple commit to not censoring content critical of China.::Lawmakers demand that Apple commit to not censoring content critical of China.

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[–] SnotFlickerman@lemmy.blahaj.zone 133 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (5 children)

Cool, cool, cool.

And just Apple's word and a pinkie swear is enough to trust that they won't censor content for China?

Wake the fuck up, Congress.

Businesses don't give one good god damn about democracy. They don't give one good god damn about allegiances to one nation over another. They give a damn about money, so unless you plan on making Apple open up their fucking internal records and fucking show you that they're not capitulating to China or anyone else, you can bet your ass they are.

How do all these fucking self-professed capitalists on Capitol Hill not understand how capitalism works?

EDIT: I want to make clear, this isn't meant to be a "China BAD" post. It's a "You can't trust people whose bottom line is always money" post. Who they capitulate to is less important than the fact that they're willing to toss out morals and ethics for money.

[–] Wrench@lemmy.world 19 points 1 year ago

How is this any different from networks firing hosts / pulling content because sponsors threaten to pull their ads?

I'm fully on the "fuck corps that cave to China's childish demands" side. I'm still boycotting Blizzard after the Free HK scandal.

But I think it's their choice to capitulate for access to China's market, and it's my choice to stop doing business with them as a result. I don't think it's the government's place to essentially tell a company they can't do business in China, unless it's literally a national security thing like electronics with Spyware / backdoors.

[–] gsfraley@lemmy.world 13 points 1 year ago

I'll make the "China bad" post. There are very few governments with an ego as fragile as China's. It barely even makes sense since they have the weight and soft power to lead by example, or develop healthy ties with the rest of the world. But they just. Don't. It really gives the impression that all is not well within their borders.

[–] MotoAsh@lemmy.world 3 points 1 year ago

They are paid very handsomely to not wake up. Things need to change.

[–] AbouBenAdhem@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Apple would no doubt prefer to have its cake and eat it too—keep the show and its revenue without facing retaliation from the CCP. If Congress gives them a plausible excuse to do that, why wouldn’t they?

[–] jaschen@lemm.ee 73 points 1 year ago (3 children)

Ffffuuuccccckkkk China the government. Get your fucking jets out of Taiwan airspace. Each time you do(5am), our jets have to scramble and it wakes everyone up. Fucking stop. We trying to sleep.

[–] whereisk@lemmy.world 16 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Yes, but aren't you now even more positively inclined towards "reunification"? /s

[–] jaschen@lemm.ee 3 points 1 year ago

Oh man. It just pisses us off even more. I def not going to vote for the KMTs. The front runner is a douche for the KMTs.

[–] SolNine@lemmy.ml 13 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I am very sorry you all are living like that, it would drive me mad.

[–] jaschen@lemm.ee 5 points 1 year ago

It's worse right now because the next Taiwan election is coming up soon and they want to intimidate us into voting for the KMT faction which wants to merge into the CCP.

[–] MycoBro@lemmy.world 6 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Real question. Does Tiwan in average care for English speaking tourists? Because I’d love to bring my family. I have always wanted to go to china too, but, yeah, maybe not.

[–] jaschen@lemm.ee 5 points 1 year ago

If you come here, you will almost be treated like a celebrity. Almost everyone speaks English or tries extremely hard to communicate with you. If you have kids, it's a very kid friendly country. They value kids welfare above all. So you will find many places are geared towards family and moms and kids.

If you come here and visit. Feel free to DM me. I'll give you some pointers!

[–] Rubanski@lemm.ee 5 points 1 year ago

It does, you will feel very welcome there. In Taipei, English is no problem at all

[–] ItsaB3AR@sh.itjust.works 62 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Imagine thinking Jon Stewart of all people wouldn’t talk about certain political situations. Apple TV + looks like it won’t last long if all their content is pandering to Winnie.

[–] SCB@lemmy.world 6 points 1 year ago

When has Jon ever shied away from any discussion?

[–] cyd@lemmy.world 37 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Padme: These protections will extend to criticisms of Israel, right?

Anakin: ...

[–] realharo@lemm.ee 13 points 1 year ago (3 children)

Has someone's show been cancelled over criticisms of Israel?

[–] WhatAmLemmy@lemmy.world 8 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

I'd consider Israel's recent movements, to ban Journalism the government disagrees with, to be far more dangerous that a private company cancelling a show...

[–] realharo@lemm.ee 2 points 1 year ago

Sure, but I mean in countries like US.

China bans all kinds of stuff within their own borders already and nobody bats an eye...

[–] Pips@lemmy.sdf.org 3 points 1 year ago

Not a TV show specifically, but Ai Weiwei's gallery exhibition in London was canceled due to a tweet he posted regarding the Hamas attack and Israel. Whatever you feel about their specific comments or circumstances, several individuals and events have been affected due to an actual or perceived pro-Palestinian or anti-Israel message.

https://forward.com/culture/567702/palestinian-cultural-events-cancelled-censorship-israel/

[–] thecrotch@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 year ago

It's illegal to boycott Israel in 35 states, does that count?

[–] Reality_Suit@lemmy.one 27 points 1 year ago

Apple, first trillion dollar company by being cheap pieces of shit and overcharging for cheap products made in China. Fuck apple.

[–] crystalmerchant@lemmy.world 20 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Ties to China?? Uhh how about "hundreds of millions of people in China buy our phones" and that's a lottttttt of money"

[–] Phanlix@lemmy.world 15 points 1 year ago

Ideally we wouldn't sacrifice our ideals of freedom for money. This is America though and we're all capitalist whores first and foremost though.

[–] Donjuanme@lemmy.world 19 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I think compelled speech is as legal as prohibited speech. Great that Congress develops a spine in an issue they're legally incapable of affecting.

[–] abhibeckert@lemmy.world 17 points 1 year ago

Congress is absolutely capable of affecting this. For example they could force Apple to withdraw from China (they way they have done with Nvidia).

(I'm not saying they will, but they definitely could)

[–] autotldr@lemmings.world 11 points 1 year ago (1 children)

This is the best summary I could come up with:


These steps, lawmakers wrote, are critical to help address "broader concerns about indirect Chinese Communist Party (CCP) influence over the creative expression of American artists and companies on CCP-related topics."

Lawmakers wrote that Cook's "recent trip to Beijing" makes it appear as if "maintaining a positive relationship with the CCP may be a priority given ongoing supply chain and financial dependencies."

"We support the ability of artists, writers, studios, and streaming services alike to create content without fear of potential CCP retaliation and punishment," lawmakers wrote.

"We similarly encourage American technology companies to diversify their supply chains, reduce their potential susceptibility to CCP pressure, and decrease their overall dependence on" China.

That is the primary focus of the House's Select Committee on Competition with the Chinese Communist Party, and in the lawmakers' letter to Cook, they said that "potential decisions to not renew shows, or not produce a film or show in the first place, due to anticipated CCP objections to particular content deny US viewers and global audiences access to important information" about China that "reflects a broader variety of perspectives" and "speaks to an important geopolitical challenge of our time."

Lawmakers noted that if a major star like Jon Stewart can be censored, there can be little hope for "an aspiring comedian who wants to use satire to make broader points about human rights and authoritarianism."


The original article contains 750 words, the summary contains 228 words. Saved 70%. I'm a bot and I'm open source!

[–] IanSomnia@lemmy.world 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)
[–] Trashboat@lemmy.blahaj.zone 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Couldn’t have said it better myself

[–] Gullible@sh.itjust.works 0 points 1 year ago

Hoc cogito, ergo dico hoc

[–] RobotToaster@mander.xyz 8 points 1 year ago

Next Wednesday they'll demand censorship of content critical of Israel and the US MIC as "disinformation".