The Trump administration is looking at banning additional Chinese apps as negotiations over TikTok have nearly ground to a halt.
The US banned TikTok over national security and privacy concerns. The social media platform had gone from one privacy and security issue to another, leading many agencies and companies to ban their employees from using it. The nationwide ban is set to go into effect on September 15, unless a buyer can be found to take over US operations. Microsoft emerged as an early contender, buoyed by Walmart joining the tech giant in an effort to purchase TikTok. Oracle has also expressed interest, supported by Trump.
Ultimately, however, Beijing instituted new rules governing which technologies can be exported, rules that covered the type of algorithm TikTok relies on. ByteDance has said it plans on following the new export rules, all but killing a deal in its current form. One other possibility is to sell the platform minus the algorithm that makes it what it is, leaving a buyer to create a new one.
Now it appears the Trump administration may be looking at banning even more Chinese apps, according to CNBC. It’s a safe bet that the longer this tit for tat goes on, the more companies, services and apps will be caught in the crosshairs.