Apple’s China ties under Congressional scrutiny after Jon Stewart cancellation
Apple’s China ties under Congressional scrutiny after Jon Stewart cancellation
Lawmakers demand that Apple commit to not censoring content critical of China.
Last month, a person familiar with the matter told The New York Times that Stewart told his staff that the cancellation came after "potential show topics related to China and artificial intelligence were causing concern among Apple executives." Sources told The Hollywood Reporter that Stewart felt "hamstrung" by Apple's requests to be “aligned” regarding topics on the show.
Lawmakers confirmed that they would also reach out to Stewart to hear his side of the story.
This story barely has anything to do with Jon. Censoring him is just one example of a larger problem
True indeed. But Jon, as he has been for a number of other causes, may inadvertently be the catalyst that sparks action on this one.
Realistically, it’s probably a moot point. With all the money China pours into US industries, lawmakers don’t really have any leverage. But at least they balked!
i didn't even think the show would last this long before apple shut it down.
Correct. It's about the concerns lawmakers have with Apple shutting down Jon's show because of his criticism against China and how that conflicts with their priorities. So authorities want some assurances that China is not having an undue influence over Apple's policies.
Pertaining to free speech: Is it a growing problem? Or is it a problem that always existed but now we're seeing it all out in the open?
I can't imagine producers, editors, etc.. from 50+ years ago were more open to having topics outside the Overton Window on their shows/print.
If you're talking about China's influence over what gets discussed, then for sure that's concerning and new.
This is the best summary I could come up with:
These steps, lawmakers wrote, are critical to help address "broader concerns about indirect Chinese Communist Party (CCP) influence over the creative expression of American artists and companies on CCP-related topics."
Lawmakers wrote that Cook's "recent trip to Beijing" makes it appear as if "maintaining a positive relationship with the CCP may be a priority given ongoing supply chain and financial dependencies."
"We support the ability of artists, writers, studios, and streaming services alike to create content without fear of potential CCP retaliation and punishment," lawmakers wrote.
"We similarly encourage American technology companies to diversify their supply chains, reduce their potential susceptibility to CCP pressure, and decrease their overall dependence on" China.
That is the primary focus of the House's Select Committee on Competition with the Chinese Communist Party, and in the lawmakers' letter to Cook, they said that "potential decisions to not renew shows, or not produce a film or show in the first place, due to anticipated CCP objections to particular content deny US viewers and global audiences access to important information" about China that "reflects a broader variety of perspectives" and "speaks to an important geopolitical challenge of our time."
Lawmakers noted that if a major star like Jon Stewart can be censored, there can be little hope for "an aspiring comedian who wants to use satire to make broader points about human rights and authoritarianism."
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Tackling Tik Tok, the biggest Chinese propaganda machine? I sleep.
Investigating the cancellation of a show that nobody watched? Real shit!
Apple poisons everything it touches.
Show us on this doll where they touched you
we just expect a cash strapped enterprise like apple to be able to afford the behemoth investment that was this show? i bet they used at least 1 camera and microphone!
as a more nonsilly thought... did jon really expect apple to not do this?