Story by Bruce Chahwanda, Political Editor
THE decision by the United States government to ban social media application TikTok has been described as another clear case of America’s double standards.
Political analysts are convinced the recent development must serve as a lesson to the global south that they should make decisions based on their national security priorities.
The United States of America has taken aim at social media application owners TikTok after what they defined as a national security threat.
This has resulted in TikTok being temporarily banned in the United States in a move which has seen Political analysts questioning the US s stance on the Chinese firm saying it confirms that the US is an international bully whose thirst for global dominance knows no bounds.
Political analyst Mr Gibson Nvikadzino said the battle between TikTok and the US authorities
cements the view that America has become a security threat for other countries.
“Hypocrisy is huge in this regard, because when they raise concerns over security issues, the same goes for nations of the Global South. National security goes beyond, in fact national security goes beyond freedom of expression. So I think what I tells us is that there is a duplicity in terms of the behavior of the United States.
“When this happens to nations in the Global South, they are condemned But 1 think it is now rime for Global South countries to also determine their digital sovereignty because this is creating an unequal balance in the relations, it’s always asymmetrical” he said
“There are inequalities that are coming out of this relationship, especially considering that we do not have our own platforms. We are becoming citizens in a virtual world whose interests are not prioritizing ours, but we are advancing the agenda of the West.”
Political scientist Mr Tongai Dana added his voice saving the decision by the US to ban the social media platform is an infringement and freedom of speech which they purport to champion.
“If they implement a shutdown or a blackout on private radio stations or on specific social media activities, they’ve said it’s a breach of human rights and infringement to freedom of speech. That is where the hypocrisy comes in, and it should be spelled out that countries have a right to control information within their countries. And when countries like Zimbabwe do that, the West should not be very hypocritical and say it’s wrong when they are doing the same thing.
“So what I would say to Zimbabwe is where we feel it’s critical for national securing, for stability, and for order in our country, rationally, let’s do what we have to do because the Americans in the West are doing what they have to do and ignore those double standards and selective application of principles of democracy.
You will see that what we need now is for our own people to work on developing local developed applications as alternatives to foreign-controlled and influenced radio media houses and social media platforms as a way to protect our own priorities and interests.
The US has done that. And to the international community, I would say countries have a right to protect their interests. When you protect your interests, it doesn’t matter to us. But when we protect ours, please allow us to do that. We have allowed you to do that, we have respected your constitutional court,” he said.
Despite the resumption of operations after the intervention of President Donald Trump observers believe each country has the right to pursue and protect national interests, without undue interference from the West.
