I can’t even imagine what kind of “values declaration” a Chinese company, under the scrutiny of the CCP, could possibly hope to make. Free speech? Transparency? Privacy protection? Honesty and integrity? Any one of these is clearly a lie given the country that they’re based in.

I don’t know what the excuse of those other tech companies outside China could be. I guess when you move fast and break things, some of the things being broken are promises.

Values declarations are easy, if there is no one to enforce them Let's look at the Chinese constitution:

https://www.usconstitution.net/china.html#Article35

> Article 1. Socialist state

> The People's Republic of China is a socialist state under the people's democratic dictatorship led by the working class and based on the alliance of workers and peasants.

> Article 2. Power belongs to the people

> All power in the People's Republic of China belongs to the people.

> Article 35. Freedom of speech, press, assembly

> Citizens of the People's Republic of China enjoy freedom of speech, of the press, of assembly, of association, of procession and of demonstration.

> Article 37. Freedom of person

> Unlawful detention or deprivation or restriction of citizens' freedom of the person by other means is prohibited, and unlawful search of the person of citizens is prohibited.

> Article 39. Inviolability of the home

The residences of citizens of the People's Republic of China are inviolable. Unlawful search of, or intrusion into, a citizen's residence is prohibited.

Is "unlawful" there translated from a word with similar connotations in Chinese? Because "unlawful [search, etc] is prohibited" is...a bit tautological.

I don't read a lot of legal documents, but maybe it could also be translated as "unwarranted" or "not legally sanctioned".

It's hard to hold anyone accountable when they don't first commit to anything. TikTok should therefore not even be given the benefit of the doubt.