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U.S. gov't bans TikTok, WeChat on security risk allegations


Washington, DC - U.S. Dept. of Commerce (Press Release) - In response to President Trump’s Executive Orders signed August 6, 2020, the Department of Commerce (Commerce) today announced 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, protect users in the U.S. by eliminating access to these applications and significantly reducing their functionality. 

“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,” said U.S. Department of Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross. “At the President’s direction, we have taken significant action to combat China’s malicious collection of American citizens’ personal data, while promoting our national values, democratic rules-based norms, and aggressive enforcement of U.S. laws and regulations.”


While the threats posed by WeChat and TikTok are not identical, they are similar. Each collects vast swaths of data from users, including network activity, location data, and browsing and search histories. Each is an active participant in China’s civil-military fusion and is subject to mandatory cooperation with the intelligence services of the CCP.  This combination results in the use of WeChat and TikTok creating unacceptable risks to our national security.

As of September 20, 2020, the following transactions are prohibited:

  1. 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.;

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

As of September 20, 2020, for WeChat and as of November 12, 2020, for TikTokthe following transactions are prohibited:

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

  2. Any provision of content delivery network services enabling the functioning or optimization of the mobile application in the U.S.;

  3. Any provision directly contracted or arranged internet transit or peering services enabling the function or optimization of the mobile application within the U.S.;

  4. Any utilization of the mobile application’s constituent code, functions, or services in the functioning of software or services developed and/or accessible within the U.S.

Any other prohibitive transaction relating to WeChat or TikTok may be identified at a future date. Should the U.S. Government determine that WeChat’s or TikTok’s illicit behavior is being replicated by another app somehow outside the scope of these executive orders, the President has the authority to consider whether additional orders may be appropriate to address such activities. The President has provided until November 12 for the national security concerns posed by TikTok to be resolved. If they are, the prohibitions in this order may be lifted.


The notices for these actions will be posted on the Federal Register at approximately 8:45AM EDT on Friday, September 18, 2020.


Background:

On August 6, 2020, President Trump signed Executive Orders (E.O.) 13942, Addressing the Threat Posed by TikTok, and E.O. 13943, Addressing the Threat Posed by WeChat. In the E.O.s, the President determined that the apps capture vast swaths of information from U.S. users, leaving the data vulnerable to CCP access for nefarious purposes. Commerce, at the Direction of the President, was required to identify transactions within 45 days to protect national security and the private data of millions of people across the country. Today’s announced prohibitions fulfill the President’s direction and mitigate national security risks.



2 comentarios


Sergiy Sergiy
Sergiy Sergiy
03 ago

These apps are popular but have faced scrutiny over data privacy concerns. As digital security becomes increasingly critical, it's crucial to stay informed about such developments. If you want to dive deeper into the implications of these actions and how they might affect you, visit the site. It’s essential to balance convenience with security and stay updated on how these changes might impact our digital landscape.

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lekor adams
lekor adams
08 mar

The U.S. government's recent ban on TikTok and WeChat, citing security risk allegations, marks a significant moment in the ongoing dialogue about digital privacy, national security, and the global reach of social media platforms. This move not only underscores the growing concerns over the potential misuse of data and the influence of foreign entities but also highlights the shifting landscape of online communication. In the wake of these bans, users may turn to alternative platforms for digital interaction, such as random chat rooms and services like Chatrandom, which offers free webcams and basic video chat features, allowing for easy communication with strangers around the world. Chatrandom, providing instant video chats with a random stranger at the click of a button…

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