Tech as a Geopolitical Tool

Urban technologies can be considered geopolitical tools and, much like traditional resources, they are now at the forefront of international disputes and power plays. The "Smart Cities" idea often associated with U.S. and Western models of urban development and the "Safe Cities" concept championed by China (aimed at enhancing public safety through surveillance technologies, among others) are more than just technological frameworks; they represent strategic narratives in both technical-cultural arenas and new emerging markets. These concepts demonstrate the broader competition in the realm of technology and its role in shaping the future of urban spaces globally.

Related to the current global tensions, the federal government, more than half of state governments, and even some cities have recently taken action to ban TikTok on government devices due to the relationship between TikTok's parent company, ByteDance, and the Chinese government. In 2024, then-President Joe Biden signed a bill to ban TikTok in nine months if the company wasn’t sold to a company approved by the U.S. This ban briefly went into effect before the timeline for a sale was extended by President Donald Trump, and as of May 2025 the future of the app in the U.S. remains uncertain.

While planners may not shape geopolitical dynamics, they do play a role in choosing technologies for community development. It is important to consider who owns the data generated by these technologies and where that data is stored.