The Trump administration said it is banning China’s TikTok and WeChat from mobile app stores beginning this Sunday, Sept. 20, in a seemingly unprecedented move that will sharply raise tensions with Beijing.
The US Department of Commerce in a press release on Friday said the ban was in response to President Trump’s Executive Orders signed August 6, 2020.
The statement read “
The department of Commerce today announces prohibitions on transactions relating to mobile applications (apps) WeChat and TikTok to safeguard the national security of the United States.
“The Chinese Communist Party, CCP, has demonstrated the means and motives to use these apps to threaten the national security, foreign policy, and the economy of the U.S. Today’s announced prohibitions, when combined, protects users in the U.S. by eliminating access to these applications and significantly reducing their functionality.
“The following transactions will be prohibited; Any provision of service to distribute or maintain the WeChat or TikTok mobile applications, constituent code, or application updates through an online mobile application store in the U.S.
“Any provision of services through the WeChat mobile application for the purpose of transferring funds or processing payments within the U.S.
“Any provision of internet hosting services enabling the functioning or optimization of the mobile application in the U.S. Any provision of content delivery network services enabling the functioning or optimization of the mobile application in the U.S.
“Any provision directly contracted or arranged internet transit or peering services enabling the function or optimization of the mobile application within the U.S.
“Any utilization of the mobile application’s constituent code, functions, or services in the functioning of software or services developed and/or accessible within the U.S.
“These measures ensure TikTok and WeChat will be removed from iOS and Google Play starting Sunday, preventing users from downloading the apps or updating them in the future.”
It also stated that TikTok has until November 12 to resolve the national security concerns it poses, adding that If this is done, the ban may be lifted.
