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The undersigned organizations would like to express
our grave concern about the two Executive Orders you issued on
August 6th, 2020, effectively banning the WeChat and TikTok
applications.
If fully implemented, these Executive Orders will likely violate
constitutional protections for all Americans and erode the American
rule of law. In addition, these orders will most certainly harm
American business operations and their ability to compete in China.
But most importantly, these orders will tarnish America’s moral
standing in the world, and certainly have an adverse and disparate
impact on the lives of many Americans, including millions of Chinese
Americans, by chilling their ability to freely communicate with
others throughout the world. As such, we respectfully request that
you rescind the two Executive Orders.
WeChat and TikTok are popular applications owned by companies in
China that are used by hundreds of millions of people globally, not
just in China. In the case of WeChat, a mobile communication and
commercial platform, many Chinese Americans rely on the application
for daily communication with their families and loved ones in China,
for conducting business internationally, for civic participation and
free political expression in America, and also for exchanging news
and opinions that may not be easily available inside China. Thus,
these Executive Orders would severely disrupt and uproot the way of
life for millions of Americans, as well as limit the free exchange
of ideas and facts both here and abroad.
While we recognize the privacy and cyber security concerns noted in
the Executive Orders, to dictate and control the way Americans
choose the Internet platforms and access information would fly
against the openness and democratic values that are at the core of
the American spirit. This unnecessarily restrictive and imperious
action is out of sync with our core values and American
constitutional principles like freedom of speech, and the right to
due process under the rule of law.Furthermore, by banning these
popular platforms according to the dictates of US government, we are
moving dangerously close to the very censorship we so much loathe
and often condemn in autocratic societies.
Mr. President, the United States has long stood for an open and
free Internet. These Executive Orders, coupled with the Clean
Network initiative your Administration has taken targeting China,
would effectively create two separate and decoupled internets, which
will only serve to restrict the free flow of information to and from
China, and reverse the long-held national policy of an open and free
Internet held by all previous administrations.
At a time of global pandemic and economic crises, this world needs
more free and open communication and cooperation among the nations,
not less. Starting an all-out Cold War on the technology front with
China during a pandemic is certainly not in the best interest of the
United States and this world.
As such, we respectfully request that you revoke the two Executive
Orders.
Sincerely Yours,
The Undersigned Organizations:
Organization Signature Form on UCA Statement
Regarding the White House EOs This form is to collect signature of
organizations who would like to jointly express our grave concern
about the two Executive Orders the White House issued on August 6th,
2020, that would effectively ban Wechat and TikTok in America.
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