TikTok controversy signals the end of borderless technology

For many years, big technology companies acted as if they were above countries and borders. Google wanted to “organize the world’s information.” Facebook wanted to “connect the world.” Microsoft ran its cloud services across many countries. Twitter worked as a global town square. These companies seemed to care more about users and growth than about any one country.

This idea of global, borderless technology has now changed. The TikTok story is the main example. The company had to separate its U.S. operations from the rest of the world because of U.S. government pressure. This shows that big technology platforms can no longer ignore national rules. TikTok may be the first case, but it will not be the last. Companies now must follow the rules of the countries where they operate.

From global to national control

We can see three phases in the rise of big technology.

The first phase, called the supra-national era, was in the 2000s and 2010s. Tech companies saw themselves as global services. They cared about users, shareholders, and ecosystems. Borders were not important, except for small local rules.

The second phase started around 2020. National security became more important. India banned TikTok. Huawei was removed from 5G networks in many countries. Semiconductors and chips became a key part of the U.S.–China rivalry. Governments began treating platforms as strategic assets and potential threats.

Now we are in the third phase, called the geo-national era. Companies must follow national rules. They must change their structures, supply chains, and governance to match the priorities of each country. TikTok’s separation is one example. Nvidia cannot sell some of its GPUs to China. Rare earth minerals are being stockpiled in friendly countries. Nations are making rules for artificial intelligence. The European Union has its AI Act. The United States has safety rules for AI and export restrictions. China requires platforms to submit their algorithms to regulators.

This shows that technology is no longer borderless. It has become national infrastructure, and it is political.

Some people argue that technology is still global. TikTok’s algorithm is mostly the same everywhere. Google, Meta, and Microsoft still operate in many countries. AI researchers from different countries still collaborate on papers.

But this argument ignores the deeper reality. The user experience may look global, but the company’s ownership, rules, and operations are becoming national. Platforms may look global on the surface, but underneath they are split into country-specific versions. Each version follows the rules of the country where it works.

India and the future of tech

India has already acted early in this story. The country banned TikTok in 2020. This decision was based on national security, but also on the need to control digital platforms. India is now building its own digital infrastructure, like UPI for payments and ONDC for commerce.

For the United States, TikTok is seen as a risk from Chinese influence. For China, TikTok is a success story of global technology. For other countries, this situation is both a risk and an opportunity. They may have to choose sides in a tech rivalry, but they can also build their own systems that match national priorities.

The TikTok story also gives lessons for artificial intelligence. Today, AI seems borderless. Models trained in one country can be used in another. Researchers share papers globally. But the same forces that affected TikTok will shape AI. Countries will control data, chips, and AI rules. The European Union’s AI Act, U.S. restrictions, and China’s algorithm rules all show that AI will be controlled by nations. AI will be global for users but divided by countries in terms of rules and ownership.

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For businesses, this means politics is now part of growth. Scaling globally is not just about having the right product. Companies must also fit local rules and regulations. Investors must consider national risk as a key factor. Rules and regulations can affect business value as much as market demand. Policymakers must balance national control with innovation.

India’s example shows that countries can have both control and openness. Digital networks can be built so nations have control while businesses and users still benefit from global connections.

In conclusion, the TikTok story is not an exception. It shows the future of social media, AI, chips, and rare minerals. Technology is now geo-national, not supra-national. The winners will be the companies and countries that can balance innovation with sovereignty. Countries and businesses must act quickly to survive and succeed in this new world of nationalized technology.