Author: Paris Marx, Yangyang Cheng

Paris Marx is joined by Yangyang Cheng to discuss how Huawei became one of the most powerful companies in China and how current geopolitical narratives distract from the issues at the heart of surveillance capitalism in the US and China.

Yangyang Cheng is a Research Scholar in Law and Fellow at Yale Law School’s Paul Tsai China Center.

Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Support the show on Patreon.

The podcast is made in partnership with The Nation. Production is by Kyla Hewson.

Also mentioned in this episode:

• Yangyang wrote about how Huawei is emblematic of China’s capitalist model for ChinaFile.
• We also discuss Eva Dou’s The House of Huawei.
• Donald Trump discussed how the USA uses the same tactics the government accuses China of employing in bad faith.

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Paris Marx is joined by Yangyang Cheng to discuss the growing divide between the United States and China, and how nationalistic narratives distract us from a better understanding of tech in both countries.
 
Yangyang Cheng is a particle physicist and research scholar at Yale Law School. She’s written for the New York Times, The Guardian, The Nation, WIRED, and many others. You can follow Yangyang on Twitter at @yangyang_cheng.

Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Follow the podcast (@techwontsaveus) and host Paris Marx (@parismarx) on Twitter, and support the show on Patreon.

The podcast is produced by Eric Wickham and part of the Harbinger Media Network.

Also mentioned in this episode:

• Yangyang wrote about the myth of the TikTok spy and the US fixation on Chinese espionage for Wired.
• She mentioned the coming expiry of a science and technology agreement between the US and China. It’s been temporarily extended.
• Paris recently wrote about the benefits the US receives from the global footprint of its tech companies, and why that makes China look like a threat.

Support the show