Hacker News Reader

What's to stop the companies from claiming they just happen to want to remove the speech of their own volition? If the CEO of TikTok says he doesn't want "free Tibet" on his platform because he wants to be on good terms with China, not because China specifically told him to censor it, is that his freedom?

View on HN

> What's to stop the companies from claiming they just happen to want to remove the speech of their own volition?

The fact that they would have no choice if they were subject to China's jurisdiction. You can't choose to do something you're being forced to do, therefore if you do it, it wasn't your choice.

I have at least two options: comply or exit the jurisdiction. It is my choice to do the former.

> The fact that they would have no choice if they were subject to China's jurisdiction.

Wouldn't the reverse be true in the US? Assume that actually supported China's radical opinions, while being subject to US jurisdiction - wouldn't they be forced out of business? Isn't that what's going on now?

> You can't choose to do something you're being forced to do, therefore if you do it, it wasn't your choice.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frankfurt_cases

actions speak louder than words here.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com