Former National Security Advisor O’Brien writes for The Hill
“Only U.S. companies are subject to regulation…Chinese companies will be left alone.”
The national security adviser at the time of the Trump administration argued that the antitrust regulations on online platforms that the Korean government recently announced would be beneficial to Chinese technology companies while squeezing American technology companies.
Former National Security Advisor Robert O’Brien mentioned Korea’s platform regulations in an article he wrote for The Hill, a U.S. political media outlet, on the 28th (local time) and said, “Such a move in Korea will be a gift to the Chinese Communist Party.”
“Above all, these laws undermine national security by unequally regulating digital markets,” he said. “Innovative technology leaders, primarily American companies, are likely to be designated as ‘dominant platform business companies’ by Korean regulators.”
He added, “We will not touch Chinese technology giants such as Alibaba and TikTok’s parent company ByteDance, which pose a clear national security threat.”
Previously, the Korea Fair Trade Commission announced at a cabinet meeting chaired by President Yoon Seok-yeol on the 19th that it would push for the ‘Platform Competition Promotion Act’ to pre-regulate platforms to block market order disruption by monopoly platforms and protect small business owners and consumers.
This bill plans to designate a small number of large platforms, such as Kakao and Naver, as ‘dominant platform operators’ and to prohibit abuse of power by platforms, such as preferential treatment of the platform and restrictions on multi-homing (banning the use of competing platforms). The industry expects Apple, Google, Amazon, and Meta in the U.S. and Naver and Kakao in Korea to be subject to regulation.
Former aide O’Brien said the law, which targets almost exclusively American companies, “could cause unnecessary friction between the United States and South Korea,” adding, “This friction is very important for the relationship between the two countries to maintain security and economic prosperity in the Indo-Pacific.” “It will happen at a critical time,” he pointed out.
He continued, “Before pushing forward with this regulation, President Yoon Seok-yeol and the National Assembly must carefully evaluate the secondary and tertiary effects it will have not only on technology platforms, but also on the larger digital economy and Korea’s relationship with the United States, its economic and military partner.” .
Meanwhile, it is known that former National Security Advisor O’Brien is likely to take on the position of Secretary of State if the Trump administration returns to power in next year’s presidential election.
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.