U.S. Imposes Ban on Operation of TikTok and WeChat
Updated Scoop: The United States is set to crack down on TikTok and WeChat, two popular apps, following the orders of President Donald Trump. Almaty.tv, citing eadaily.com, has reported this news.
Starting from September 18, the U.S. Department of Commerce has barred any updates or services provided through the WeChat and TikTok mobile applications' app stores, as well as any payments or money transfers via WeChat, within the United States. The reason for this ban is to protect the data of American citizens and ensure national security.
The ban is set to take effect on two phases. WeChat will be blocked on September 20, while TikTok will face restrictions on November 12. American TikTok users will still have access to the app during negotiations regarding data security. The U.S. government has pointed out that China, the home country of both WeChat (owned by Tencent) and TikTok (owned by ByteDance), poses potential threats to U.S. national security, international politics, and economy.
There are several reasons behind this decision. Data security risks, foreign adversary control, and content influence concerns have been raised as key issues. U.S. officials fear that user data collected by TikTok could be accessed by the Chinese government, posing a risk of espionage or influence operations. The Chinese ownership of both apps also makes them susceptible to influencing by the Chinese government. Furthermore, policymakers have expressed worries about algorithmic manipulation and its potential impact on geopolitical narratives.
Courts have previously blocked similar orders issued by President Trump in 2020, citing First Amendment and due process violations. However, the legal landscape has changed as Congress passed the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act (PAFACA) in 2024-2025, which required ByteDance to divest TikTok by January 19, 2025. The Supreme Court unanimously upheld this law, ruling that Congress had valid national security grounds. TikTok temporarily suspended services on January 19 but resumed after President Trump extended deadlines for a sale.
WeChat's restriction faced legal setbacks earlier, with courts emphasizing its role in diaspora communications. Despite the ban remaining active legislatively, operational restrictions for TikTok have been delayed pending sale negotiations. ByteDance has yet to comply with the requirement to divest TikTok’s recommendation algorithm, viewed as core intellectual property, which complicates the ownership transfer efforts.
- The United States Ministry of Commerce has prohibited updates, services, and payments on TikTok and WeChat gadgets, citing concerns over national security and protection of American data.
- In September, the United States began restricting services provided through the WeChat and TikTok social-media apps, with WeChat facing an immediate ban on September 20 and TikTok having restrictions imposed on November 12.
- The United States government has noted potential threats from China, the home country of both WeChat (owned by Tencent) and TikTok (owned by ByteDance), to U.S. national security, international politics, and economy.
- The ban on TikTok and WeChat includes content that is popular for entertainment and information technology purposes.
- The Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act (PAFACA) was passed by Congress in 2024-2025, requiring ByteDance to divest TikTok by January 19, 2025, and the Supreme Court unanimously upheld this law.
