Mark ScottOvjeren akaunt

Well, sh*t.

Interesting note: OECD says any talks about US efforts to make the global digital tax regime “optional” will be delayed until agreement can be reach on digital tax rules — basically, punt into the long grass

As expected -- countries just agree to keep talking on #digitaltax. "Members of the Inclusive Framework affirm their commitment to reach an agreement on a consensus-based solution by the end of 2020" https://www.oecd.org/tax/beps/statement-by-the-oecd-g20-inclusive-framework-on-beps-january-2020.pdf …https://twitter.com/markscott82/status/1222847124452319233 …

Classy move, Brussels https://twitter.com/joncstone/status/1222928005141532677 …https://twitter.com/markscott82/status/1222824970251837440 …

When your share priced is based on monthly active users & keeping eyeballs on the network, there is a disincentive to proactively remove content/fake users that *may* hit the bottom line.https://twitter.com/JuddLegum/status/1222930629374947329 …

Hey ho — @VeraJourova says regulation on platforms needed, flags specifically use of political ads. “We need to push them to more accountable and responsible.”

.@VeraJourova: “Russia and, increasingly, China are actively using disinformation and related interference tactics to undermine European democracy” — am struck how EU leaders are categoric in naming foreign govts (interesting: China now part of public conversation)

Rant over. Thoughts appreciated.

So sure, it’s easy to overlook the Brits’ decision to allow Huawei, et al into its networks as a mere domestic UK story. But there’s a bigger point here: the US swing for the fences with its oldest ally and missed. That’s worth flagging as tough decisions are made going forward.

Either DC miscalulated, was overly aggressive or has less power overseas than it once did (or, probably, some of all three).

But the US went big on this one with the UK — both for strategic & national security interests, but also to ward off others making the same choice on letting Chinese telco equipment makers. That strategy failed. And failed badly.

Sure, the US may have its “I told you so” moment on Hauwei. But it also should be said that US was also caught red handed snooping on others’ mobile networks (and, to be fair, so do other countries’ security agencies)

Now we can discuss whether this is a one off or a changing of the guard. But I find it telling that US was able to steer Aussies & Kiwis away from China, but not so with the Europeans, despite repeated (and I mean repeated) lobbying efforts and some threats

Similar moves are likely elsewhere. the French already allowed China into its mobile networks. So did the Dutch. The Germans are likely to follow suit. None of these countries want to be on the bad side of the US. But they have taken DC’s advice on board and chosen for ignore it

But, in the end, the Brits made a calculation — one, arguably, that could yet be proved right or wrong. That they don’t need the US as much as they once did, and that they’re willing to ride the Chinese wave hoping it doesn’t crash down on them