The U.S. moved to expel the Chinese-owned WeChat and TikTok apps from U.S. app stores as of Sunday, while reserving the right to reverse a ban on TikTok’s video-streaming service once it can hammer out a deal to satisfy national security concerns.

Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said Friday that the U.S. will prohibit cash transfers within the U.S. related to WeChat and its parent company Tencent Holdings Ltd. Other measures prohibited as of Sept. 20 include distribution, maintenance and updates of WeChat or TikTok through app stores in the U.S.

Source: Bloomberg

Date: September 18th, 2020

Link: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-09-18/u-s-to-block-some-wechat-tiktok-transactions-as-of-sunday?srnd=premium

Discussion

1. Why is the U.S. banning TikTok on U.S.-based app stores?
2. Is it possible for governments to tap into data that has been harvested by apps?