The government is cracking down on companies spying in China. But this is like the government cracking down on citizens cheating on taxes in America.
It’s what the government does, respectively. That’s why China cracking down on Capvision is more hypocritical than surprising.
China cracks down on Capvision
Chinese authorities have conducted raids on the offices of Capvision, an international consultancy, to investigate alleged national security risks, intensifying fears that China’s foreign business community is being caught up in an espionage crackdown. …
The first government confirmation of a national-security-linked probe comes after a string of law enforcement investigations targeting foreign consultancies and research firms that have spooked China’s international business community.
(Washington Post, May 9, 2023)
Again, the only story here is the hypocrisy afoot. Because China spies on everyone and everything.
So it’s no surprise that the government is raiding foreign businesses it suspects of spying. After all, spying’s not the thing. Who is allowed to spy is.
Except, foreign companies assume this risk. They know this is the price of doing business in China. Government crackdowns are critical to China’s growing dystopia.
Yet companies are spooked! Spooked to find that government crackdowns are going on over there? Frankly, this is even more farcical than Captain Renault in Casablanca exclaiming,
I’m shocked! Shocked to find that gambling is going on in here.
For Christ’s sake, China sent giant white balloons to spy on America’s nuclear installations!
China anti-spy crackdown
Meanwhile, this stands in remarkable contrast to the spying going on in America. After all, Amazon and Facebook spy on Americans more than the US government does.
And therein lies a signature difference between autocracies and democracies. The US government isn’t cracking down on these companies.
Instead, it’s relying on them to help spy on Americans. It’s hoping that will make its spying more effective and comprehensive.