China blocks Meta's acquisition of AI startup Manus

Post by Avicebron » Tue, Apr 28, 2026, 1:20 AM UTC

BigTTYGothGF wrote: post #187

nutjob2 wrote: post #160

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is false equivalence. Outside of immigration issues, you can only be made to surrender your passport if you have been arrested and indicted for a crime, as a part of bail. That power can only be granted by a judge. China arbitrarily traps people in China without any such thing or any due process whatsoever.

> Outside of immigration issues, you can only be made to surrender your passport if you have been arrested and indicted for a crime, as a part of bail This has historically not been the case, for example https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haig_v._Agee and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Robeson

Post by glerk » Tue, Apr 28, 2026, 1:38 AM UTC

Fricken wrote: post #196

glerk wrote: post #195

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If we’re going to descend into pedantry, my statement was normative, not descriptive, as in “I agree this is what a government does, I disagree this is what it _should_ do”. “Beneath me” is _my_ value judgement that I pass on this government and its appendages as in “it has been weighed in the balance and has been found unworthy”. That this government has more power than me doesn’t make it sit above me as a moral abs…

The government sits above you because it makes you do things under the threat of violence. Why do you stop at the stop sign? because the government reserves the right to hurt you if you don't. The government's legitimacy comes from it's stick being bigger than yours. It's not sacred, it's not magic. It's a bigger stick. Your value judgement would have weight if your stick was bigger. The guy with the bigger stick dec…

Post by threethirtytwo » Tue, Apr 28, 2026, 1:41 AM UTC

Invictus0 wrote: post #152

dublinstats wrote: post #122

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Shouldn't every country be barring people from leaving the country if they've been charged with a crime? At least if there's a good chance they will flee justice. This seems like a side issue from the question of whether the charges are legitimate.

The Manus founders had already left China. They were called back and went willingly, because if you don't go back, then China disappears your family.

Post by [deleted] » Tue, Apr 28, 2026, 2:04 AM UTC

xtracto wrote: post #155

observationist wrote: post #139

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>>> Barring them from leaving the country feels a bit sinister for people who haven't been accused of committing any crimes. This is standard operating procedure for the CCP. They are a truly ruthless, sinister group who have no scruples about ensuring compliance and using leverage on behalf of Chinese interests. Just look at what happened to Jack Ma.

Gemini, Give me examples of people that the US has retained passports pending investigations It's standard procedure in every country for some investigations.

Post by chinadata » Tue, Apr 28, 2026, 2:08 AM UTC

freakynit wrote: post #218

The governments need to keep their noses away from private companies, unless private companies turn to directly, or indirectly, limit their own competition using nefarious practises. Politicians need to be kept in check, or else, they become dictators. If not, then it's just a matter of when, not if, that that transition happens.