In 2024, Emilian Kavalski and Claris Diaz argued in “Beyond TikTok – The National Security Risks of Chinese Agricultural Drones” that the national debate over foreign social media platforms risked becoming too narrow, potentially causing Washington to overlook other foreign technologies embedded in critical systems. Two years later, we asked them to revisit their arguments.Image: MB-one via Wikimedia CommonsIn your 2024 article, you argued that TikTok’s data collection risks were overhyped and that fixating on them distracted the United States from more serious Chinese technology threats, like
The article revisits a 2024 argument, suggesting that concerns about TikTok distracted from more serious Chinese technology threats like agricultural drones, highlighting a persistent oversight two years later.
This emphasizes the broader and often overlooked national security risks posed by dual-use technologies embedded in critical infrastructure, moving beyond consumer-facing platforms.
The focus broadens from social media to a wider array of foreign technologies in essential sectors, prompting a re-evaluation of national security threat perception.
- · Chinese drone manufacturers
- · Agri-tech surveillance companies
- · US defence tech policy strategists
- · US agricultural sector (potential data compromise)
- · US national security decision-makers (if risks are ignored)
- · TikTok (as the sole focus of 'Chinese tech threat')
Increased scrutiny and debate regarding Chinese agricultural technology within US critical infrastructure.
Potential for new regulations or restrictions on foreign-made agricultural drones and related data collection.
Acceleration of domestic US defence tech recapitalization efforts to counter such perceived threats.
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Read at War on the Rocks