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Relations between the United States and China are strained on many fronts, from trade to technology – Photo: REUTERS
According to the News Agency ReutersThe US Department of Commerce said on September 18 that the administration of President Donald Trump would ban WeChat and TikTok apps from appearing in US app stores beginning on September 20.
The move will prevent Americans from downloading the two Chinese apps, amid Washington’s fears that they pose a threat to US national security.
A senior US Commerce Department official told Reuters that the US Department of Commerce has prohibited the Apple App Store, Google Play, and other app stores from providing WeChat and TikTok apps on any platform “that is accessible within NOS.”
The US Department of Commerce said the measure “would protect US users.” Currently, the company Apple and Google have not commented on the previous ban. Tencent (the owner of WeChat) and ByteDance (TikTok’s parent company) have yet to comment.
According to CNN, users who downloaded the previous two apps before the deadline can still use them. However, the recently introduced restrictions also mean that users cannot download updates from WeChat and TikTok.
“The only real change from September 20 will be that TikTok users will not have access to updated, improved or maintained applications,” said US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross on the morning of September 18 (time from the United States). ).
Meanwhile, a complete ban on the use of TikTok will take effect on November 12. This is considered additional time for ByteDance Company of China to find a deal that pleases the US with respect to the US destination of TikTok.
The Reuters news agency noted that the ban on the above apps may still be canceled by President Trump before it goes into effect. However, it is unclear whether Trump will take any action.
