Skip to main content

US to ban TikTok

 

TikTok, WeChat to be banned from U.S. app stores this Sunday

The Department of Commerce has announced that TikTok and WeChat will be banned from app stores in the U.S. from Sunday, September 20, amid national security concerns.

 

In a press release on Friday September 18, the department stated: 'In response to President Trump's Executive Orders signed August 6, 2020, the Department of Commerce (Commerce) today announced 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, protect users in the U.S. by eliminating access to these applications and significantly reducing their functionality.

 

The following transactions will be prohibited:

  1. 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.
  2. Any provision of services through the WeChat mobile application for the purpose of transferring funds or processing payments within the U.S.

 

The statement further says that as of September 20 for WeChat and November 12 for TikTok, the following transactions will be prohibited:

 

  1. Any provision of internet hosting services enabling the functioning or optimization of the mobile application in the U.S.;
  2. Any provision of content delivery network services enabling the functioning or optimization of the mobile application in the U.S.;
  3. Any provision directly contracted or arranged internet transit or peering services enabling the function or optimization of the mobile application within the U.S.;
  4. 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 was also stated that TikTok has until November 12 to resolve the national security concerns it poses. If this is done, the ban may be lifted.

 

President Trump has repeatedly said that TikTok, which is owned by the Chinese internet company ByteDance, poses a national security threat because of its Chinese ties. He advised that TikTok’s US operations be sold to an American company.

 

The new development comes days after American computer technology giant, Oracle Corporation reportedly won the bidding for TikTok's US operations after the Chinese app rejected Microsoft. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Nigeria Police speak on alleged plot to kill whistle blower

The Zone 5 headquarters of the Nigerian Police Force, Benin, has debunked any plot to eliminate one Ovie Osiebe-Franklin, an alleged whistle blower, and one other Anodeh Brave. This is contained in a statement released by Emeka Iheanacho, Zonal Police Public Relations Officer (ZPPRO), and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in Benin on Sunday. Mr Iheanacho said that the alleged whistle blower was a suspect in a case of alleged false information investigated by the FCIID, Abuja. He said that debunking the alleged elimination plot was imperative following a publication by an online publication on March 28. He said the said-publication had allegedly reported that the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone 5 Headquarters, Benin, Rasheed Akintunde, was plotting to eliminate the whistle blower. Mr Akintunde was also alleged to be plotting to kill Anode Brave, a member of Delta State Polytechnic Governing Council, Otefe-Oghara. He said that the AIG was comm...
Post a Comment
Read more

How we would have made N500m from kidnapping this December - Kidnapper opens up in Abuja

                                   Sani Mohammed, a member of a 5-man kidnap gang arrested by operatives of the IGP’s Intelligence Response Team, has disclosed that they would have made about N500 million from kidnapping wealthy victims in Abuja, and Kaduna, this December, had they not been arrested. According to Dailytrust, Mohammed was arrested alongside three others from their base in Enugu State. Their arrest is sequel to the purported plan for the gang to kidnap one an Abuja-based businessman, Alhaji Ulere. Those arrested along with Sani are: Babangida Garba, Dogo Ibrahim, and Ibrahim Haruna. Sani told the police interrogators that their plans were to make at least N500 million from ransom, this December. Sani, who the police described as one of the dangerous armed robbery suspects and kidnappers...
Post a Comment
Read more

Alleged N15bn fraud: Bafarawa to know fate July 4

Attahiru Bafarawa               A Sokoto State High Court on Tuesday reserved July 4, for judgment in the alleged N15 billion corruption charges against former Sokoto State Governor, Attahiru Bafarawa. Bafarawa is facing a 33-count charge bordering on corruption, illegal sale of government shares, misappropriation, criminal breach of trust, receiving stolen properties and unauthorised payments allegedly committed between 2003 and 2007. The case was filed before the court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) since 2009. The Judge, Justice Bello Abbas, who is also the Chief Judge of the state, fixed the date after counsel to the two parties adopted their written addresses and closed their cases. Bafarawa is standing trial alongside Beedash Nigeria Ltd, Nasdalbap Nigeria Ltd, Nasiru Bafarawa and Salihu Maibuhu-Gummi. At resumed hearing on Tuesday, the lead defence counsel, Mr Latee...
Post a Comment
Read more