(Newswire.net— August 5, 2020) — US President Donald Trump announced that he would ban the use of the popular TikTok app, which is developed by a Chinese owned company, The Washington Post reports.
“As far as TikTok is concerned, we’re banning them from the United States,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One, The Washington Post reports.
U.S. security officials are concerned that the app, owned by Chinese tech company ByteDance, could be used to gather Americans’ personal information.
TikTok denied the accusations that the application is controlled by the Chinese government, as well as that they share any information with them.
The TikTok application has up to 80 million active users per month just in America, so a ban would be a big blow for ByteDance.
However, it is not clear on the basis of which powers Trump wants to ban TikTok, how exactly that ban would be enforced, and what are the legal obstacles to that.
Microsoft has reportedly discussed the purchase of the app from ByteDance, but Trump doubts that it could happen.
A TikTok spokesman declined to comment on Trump’s statement, but told American media that the company was “convinced of TikTok’s long-term success in the United States.”
The announcement of the ban on that application comes amid increased tensions between the Trump administration and China over a number of issues, including trade disputes and Beijing’s official response to the COVID-19 epidemic.
The popularity of the application has erupted in recent years, especially among those under 20.
Users on TikTok can upload video material up to 15 seconds long, which is often comical or includes singing to music.
These videos are available to those who follow you, but also to complete strangers – all accounts are public, although users may restrict certain content to only some followers.
TikTok also allows for private messaging, but this option is limited to “friends” only.
It is estimated that the application has about 800 million users per month, most of whom are people in America and India.
India has already blocked TikTok, as well as a number of other Chinese applications.
Australia, which previously banned Chinese companies Huawei and ZTE from being suppliers of equipment for the 5G mobile network, is currently also considering a ban on TikTok.
Trump’s negative feelings towards TikTok go beyond the concern for the protection of private information. TikTok found itself in the middle of a geopolitical quarrel and was banned in India due to disputes over the border with China.
This is also happening in America, so Trump’s views should be regarded in that context.
TikTok states that they do not keep any data in China and that they would never give it to the Chinese government.