President Trump has followed through on his promise, issuing a ban on TikTok, as well as WeChat, with both bans set to take effect in mid September.
Trump has been threatening to ban TikTok as concerns have mounted that the social media platform represents a security and privacy threat. Microsoft is currently working on a deal to buy TikTok’s US operations. Although Trump initially opposed such a deal, following a call with CEO Satya Nadella, Trump gave Microsoft a limited window to make it happen.
It appears that window is 45 days, as executive orders will result in TikTok and WeChat being banned on September 15.
According to Reuters, Trump said WeChat “automatically captures vast swaths of information from its users. This data collection threatens to allow the Chinese Communist Party access to Americans’ personal and proprietary information.”
In the order banning TikTok, Trump said the US “must take aggressive action against the owners of TikTok to protect our national security.”