Internet Fragmentation Risks - The internet is at risk of fragmenting due to the collision between the globalization of technology and the deglobalization of politics, with governments worldwide pursuing their own agendas [2] - The biggest risk is the potential standoff between the US and China pulling countries into different orbits, particularly if India emulates China in cutting itself off from the global internet [5] - Nationalism is increasing in how the internet plays out, and it will be in the US's interest to reach out to India and Europe for a common approach [8] - Overregulation, particularly in Europe, could harm the internet's openness and accessibility [9] - The fragmentation of the internet is happening incrementally through technical changes, such as data localization policies, which could lead to the erosion of open data flows [11] Tech Company Involvement in Politics - Private sector companies, regardless of size, should be cautious about intervening in the public realm and politics [14] - It's generally better for tech innovation and politics to maintain a respectful distance [15] TikTok Concerns - The details of the deal regarding TikTok are unclear, particularly concerning data safety for Americans and potential surveillance from China [18] - There are questions about the algorithm feeding users and the implications of "leasing" an algorithm, especially regarding its maintenance and potential for manipulation [19] - The engineering behind TikTok's algorithm, invented and designed in China, is highly sophisticated, making it difficult to share or transfer effectively [20] Potential Future Scenario - In the worst-case scenario, in 10 years, sending photos, texts, and other data effortlessly from one part of the world to another may become more difficult due to increased friction and barriers [22] - This fragmentation would be detrimental to world-leading American tech companies [23] Proposed Solution - The big techno-democracies of India, the US, and Europe need to establish basic guard rails to keep the non-Chinese internet open [3]