U.S to ban TikTok, WeChat from app stores

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

The Department in a press release on Friday said the ban was in response to President Trump’s Executive Orders signed August 6, 2020.

The statement read “ The department of Commerce today announces 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, protects users in the U.S. by eliminating access to these applications and significantly reducing their functionality.

“The following transactions will be prohibited; 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.

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

“Any provision of internet hosting services enabling the functioning or optimization of the mobile application in the U.S.