It looks like the ban on certain social media apps will start taking place this upcoming Sunday.
According to CNN, the Commerce Department plans to restrict access to both TikTok and We Chat starting this Sunday. The ban is a part of the Trump administration’s executive order against the apps.
Any attempt to download either of the apps will be prohibited starting on Sunday. However, users who already have the apps on their devices may be able to still use them, but the restriction on the apps means that users will not be able to download the updated versions. In other words, make sure to download the apps before Sunday.
Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said, “The only real change as of Sunday night will be [TikTok users] won’t have access to improved apps, updated apps, upgraded apps or maintenance.”
When it comes to the circumstances surrounding WeChat, the department said it would be illegal to host or transfer internet traffic associated with WeChat. Once November 12th approaches, that will reportedly be the same circumstance for TikTok.
Ross continued to say, “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. 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.”
As we previously reported, TikTok officially sued the Trump administration last month ahead of the ban. When they announced their lawsuit, they said in a blog post, “We far prefer constructive dialogue over litigation. But with the Executive Order threatening to bring a ban on our US operations — eliminating the creation of 10,000 American jobs and irreparably harming the millions of Americans who turn to this app for entertainment, connection, and legitimate livelihoods that are vital especially during the pandemic — we simply have no choice.”
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TSR STAFF: Jade Ashley @Jade_Ashley94