President Donald Trump is serious about banning TikTok use in the United States.
According to a report from CNN on Friday morning (Aug. 7), Trump issued an executive order yesterday (Aug. 6) that would ban Chinese social media apps including TikTok, a short-form video app, from being used in the United States in 45 days if they aren't sold to a US-based company.
The outlet says that the order claims TikTok "automatically captures vast swaths of information from its users," including location information, browsing and internet search history, which in turn "threatens to allow the Chinese Communist Party access to Americans' personal and proprietary information—potentially allowing China to track the locations of Federal employees and contractors, build dossiers of personal information for blackmail, and conduct corporate espionage."
Earlier this week, Trump made Sept. 15 the deadline for TikTok to find a US buyer. This action would nullify the potential ban on its use among American citizens. However, the president says that TikTok's failure to secure a US buyer within that timeframe would force his hand to shut down the app in the United States. He also spoke on a monetary aspect, saying that any deal made with TikTok would have to include the US Treasury receiving a "substantial amount of money."
The social media app has expressed their shock over the order, which they say was made without any due process. Due process is a legal requirement that ensures individuals are treated fairly.
"We are shocked by the recent Executive Order, which was issued without any due process," TikTok says. "For nearly a year, we have sought to engage with the US government in good faith to provide a constructive solution to the concerns that have been expressed. What we encountered instead was that the Administration paid no attention to facts, dictated terms of an agreement without going through standard legal processes, and tried to insert itself into negotiations between private businesses."
Microsoft reportedly stated on Sunday (Aug. 2) that they are taking action to acquire the app.
Last month, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo declared that the United States was considering banning Chinese social media apps including TikTok as they posed national security and safety concerns.
Meanwhile, a congressional hearing was held on July 29 between President Trump and some of techs top CEOs regarding the issue. At that point, Trump said that he was considering his decision on banning TikTok.
Looks like the decision has been made.
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