The e-commerce giant’s lobbying targets ranged from Congress to the White House National Security Council and the Office of the US Trade Representative
Posted by Freewhale98
The e-commerce giant’s lobbying targets ranged from Congress to the White House National Security Council and the Office of the US Trade Representative
Posted by Freewhale98
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[Submission text]
**Is the U.S. trying to shield a Big Tech company from accountability after a massive cybersecurity failure?**
Pressure is mounting on U.S.-based e-commerce giant Coupang and its CEO, Kim Bom-suk, as South Korean lawmakers, the government, and civil society demand accountability following a massive data breach and new revelations suggesting organized efforts to downplay and conceal industrial accidents.
The ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) has announced plans to hold a joint National Assembly hearing on Coupang. At the same time, the government has launched a pan-government task force to conduct a thorough investigation into the company. Depending on the findings, Coupang could face unprecedented consequences, including a potential order to suspend operations. Momentum is also growing to pass new legislation regulating online platforms.
As Coupang faces the prospect of serious penalties for alleged misconduct, the Trump administration has stepped in. According to multiple accounts, the U.S. government has threatened to abandon a tariff agreement concluded just weeks earlier if South Korea proceeds with punitive measures against Coupang or advances new online platform regulations.
This article examines why this intervention is happening, tracing Coupang’s lobbying network and its deep connections within the Trump administration. It raises troubling questions about how far the U.S. government is willing to go to protect major technology firms and whether American trade pressure is being used to shield Big Tech companies from accountability abroad.