As of today, the 20th of September, the Chinese based apps TikTok and WeChat is banned from US app stores. In the announcement from the US Department of Commerce, the apps from Tencent and ByteDance is to be banned from the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store. Furthermore, companies are barred from hosting these apps in the US from November 12th.
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According to the Department of Commerce’s Secretary Wilbur Ross, this decision was made with consultation with and “at the President’s direction,” confirming it comes directly from President Trump.
“Today’s actions prove once again that President Trump will do everything in his power to guarantee our national security and protect Americans from the threats of the Chinese Communist Party,” he said. “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 US.”
What all this means is that the Trump Administration is doing everything in its power to ensure that no one in the USA is allowed to access these apps. The short amount of time between the announcement and the cut-off date gives Tencent and ByteDance virtually no time to act and try to reverse the decision through official means (like the courts). Hosting services will also need to act quickly to abide by the November cut-off date.
According to Reuters, TikTok has over 100 million users in the US. It has become a staple in the social media landscape and has grown into a powerful force, with many “influencers” now being deprived of their incomes. There are other options, like Triller, but none big enough to garner the same number of eyes.
“We disagree with the decision from the Commerce Department, and are disappointed that it stands to block new app downloads from Sunday and ban use of the TikTok app in the US from November 12,” a TikTok spokesperson explained. “Our community of 100 million US users love TikTok because it’s a home for entertainment, self-expression, and connection, and we’re committed to protecting their privacy and safety as we continue working to bring joy to families and meaningful careers to those who create on our platform.”
Update: The ban was lifted hours after going into effect – read more here.
