US To Ban WeChat,TikTok Apps On Sunday

Last updated Sep 18, 2020

People in the United States of America (USA) would no longer be able to download WeChat and TikTok apps, as the Donald Trump’s administration has banned their services beginning from Sunday 20 September 2020.

The US said it will ban TikTok and WeChat app downloads starting Sunday,

The US Commerce Department said it would ban US citizens from downloading the two apps.

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The order bars Apple and Google from hosting the TikTok and WeChat apps on their US app storefronts.

Apple and Google have not yet commented on the order.

Sources told Reuters the ban could be rescinded before Sunday if TikTok manages to get the greenlight on its deal with Oracle before then.

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The order, issued by the US Commerce Department, effectively bars US citizens from downloading the two Chinese-owned apps from either Apple’s or Google’s app storefronts.

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As of Sunday, the Commerce Department confirmed it would prohibit “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 US.”

In practice, anyone using TikTok or WeChat on their phone won’t see the apps suddenly disappear. The order indicates the apps will stop being available via app stores, and anyone already using either service won’t receive software updates.

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One part of the order does imply TikTok’s app would stop working starting November 12, since US hosting providers and content delivery networks will be barred from providing their services.

The order adds: “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.”

It is not clear what power the US government has to order Apple and Google to remove apps from their stores. Business Insider has contacted TikTok, Apple, and Google for comment.

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According to an earlier Reuters report, the ban could still be rescinded ahead of Sunday if TikTok finalizes its deal with US tech giant Oracle before the Sunday deadline.

Oracle and TikTok submitted a proposed deal to the US government for approval on Monday, with an eye to staving off earlier executive orders from President Donald Trump that would ban TikTok if its US business isn’t sold.