International Times | American-style "digital hegemony" is the biggest obstacle to global connectivity

Beijing, 15 Dec (Xinhua) -- For some time now, the US Government, think tanks, and the media have repeatedly made groundless accusations against other countries' reasonable practices in Internet management and data security based on ideological biases. In fact, the United States, which "shouts to catch thieves", has always pursued "digital hegemony", undermined the fair foundation of global cyberspace, hindered cooperation and innovation in the communications industry, and is the biggest obstacle to global interconnection.

The United States claims to advocate network transparency and free flow of information, but in fact it is the world's number one "Matrix", which has invested a lot of money and resources for many years to develop and deploy technologies for monitoring network communications, regards the global Internet space as its own backyard, and arbitrarily tramples on the data privacy rights of its own citizens and even other countries.

A photograph of Snowden, the whistleblower of the Prism Gate incident, released by NBC on May 28, 2014, being interviewed in Moscow. Xinhua News Agency/Reuters

The "Prism" plan exposed in 2013 has already aroused strong reactions from the people in the United States and abroad, and public opinion in many countries has also expressed strong doubts and dissatisfaction with the UNITED States' monitoring of the global network. But that's just the tip of the iceberg. Since 2013, many scandals that have been exposed have exposed the wanton behavior of the United States in cyberspace. The German government has said that then-Chancellor Angela Merkel's mobile phone may have been monitored by US intelligence agencies; the media also exposed that the US National Security Agency had used Danish information cables to intercept text messages and telephone calls of political leaders in Germany, France, Norway, Sweden and other countries.

The "digital hegemony" of the United States is not only reflected in its various network surveillance, but also in its use of its own industrial advantages and market position, in the industry involving data communications and Internet services to engage in double standards, to crack down on multinational enterprises from emerging economies, and to maintain its dominant position in cyberspace.

Mobile communication technology is an important technology to support the further improvement and popularization of the global Internet. In the process of building the fifth generation of mobile communication technology (5G), the United States, without any substantial evidence, has done its best to pressure other countries on the grounds of "national security" to exclude Chinese companies from 5G network construction, and those countries that are forced to do so often pay high costs and delayed 5G deployment, ultimately harming the interests of local enterprises and consumers.

In the next generation of mobile communication technology (6G), the United States still adheres to this line of thinking, co-opting allies to engage in research and development "small circles", excluding China, and completely ignoring the key role of global industrial cooperation in promoting communication technology innovation and standard setting.

The unilateral bullying of the United States even extends to the entertainment-oriented Internet short video platform. After TikTok became a short video platform favored by young people in the United States, it quickly attracted the attention of the US government and became the target of unwarranted suppression. This kind of open suppression of legally operating foreign Internet enterprises for political purposes violates the most basic market fairness.

Since its birth, the Internet has spawned a large number of digital technologies and services, which are constantly integrated into all aspects of our lives. At the same time, countries are also increasingly aware of the value of data, whether developed or developing countries, are strengthening relevant legislative management, and promoting the orderly and benign development of the Internet and big data. For its own selfish interests, the United States not only repeatedly trampled on the inclusiveness of the Internet, but also blamed the network management of other countries and obstructed innovation and exchanges, making the global "digital divide" problem worse.

For the global Internet to achieve healthy development, it must say "no" to the American "digital hegemony". It is necessary for countries around the world to work together to create a new situation in digital cooperation, create a new pattern of cybersecurity, form a more inclusive Internet management framework and sustainable digital transformation, and build a community of common destiny in cyberspace.