TikTok, the hit video-sharing mobile application owned by the Chinese company ByteDance Ltd., has its days in the United States (US) numbered as the Executive Order on Addressing the Threat Posed by TikTok has been issued on August 6, 2020.
Based on the data mentioned within the said executive order, TikTok has been reportedly downloaded globally for over one billion times and over 175 million times in the US.
Thus, as stated in the executive order:
“TikTok automatically captures vast swaths of information from its users, including Internet and other network activity information such as location data and browsing and search histories. This data collection threatens to allow the Chinese Communist Party access to Americans’ personal and proprietary information — potentially allowing China to track the locations of Federal employees and contractors, build dossiers of personal information for blackmail, and conduct corporate espionage.”
Other concerns have been pointed out, including content concerning and that the app may be used for disinformation campaigns that benefit the Chinese Communist Party. Thus, leading to the order banning TikTok in 45 days.
“The following actions shall be prohibited beginning 45 days after the date of this order, to the extent permitted under applicable law: any transaction by any person, or with respect to any property, subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, with ByteDance Ltd.”
Where else TikTok has been Banned?
US President Donald Trump has also mentioned in the order some of the places and organizations wherein the the app TikTok has already been banned.
This includes the Government of India and Federal Government phones of the Department of Homeland Security, Transportation Security Administration, and the United States Armed Forces.
Having those mentioned, to protect their national security, it is said in the EO that the United States must take aggressive action against the owners of TikTok.
SOURCE
The White House|Executive Order
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