TikTok and WeChat will be banned in the US from Sunday as per the two Executive Orders signed by the Trump administration.
The Department of Commerce announced today (September 18) that an order will bar US citizens from downloading the two apps, and they will not be allowed on any platform’s app store. However, US tech giants Apple and Google will still be allowed to offer Douyin (Chinese TikTok) and WeChat on their app stores in China.
The ban on TikTok could be put to a stop if Trump approves the deal that TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, have agreed with US tech company Oracle. ByteDance’s proposal to the US authorities explains that it would resolve the administration’s security concerns with Oracle as its technology partner, but stated that it plans to keep majority ownership of the app. ByteDance also announced that it would move TikTok’s global headquarters to the US and add 20,000 jobs to ensure that the agreement is approved.
Trump is expected to announce his verdict prior to the deadline on Sunday. ByteDance will also have to seek the approval of Chinese authorities.
The bans have been introduced due to security concerns from the US government. An announcement by the US Department of Commerce Secretary stated that:
“At the president’s direction, we have taken significant action to combat China’s malicious collection of American citizens’ personal data.”
The ban will have a huge impact on overseas Chinese living in the US who use WeChat to communicate with friends and family back in China. It will also prevent US-based businesses from using WeChat or TikTok for marketing purposes.
Read more: Should US brands be worried about the ban of WeChat and TikTok?
