Citing national security concerns, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that the U.S. is “looking at” banning TikTok and other Chinese social media apps.
Pompeo made the comments during an interview with Fox News Channel’s Laura Ingraham, saying “With respect to Chinese apps on people’s cell phones, I can assure you the United States will get this one right too, Laura,” Pompeo said (h/t CBS News).
“I don’t want to get out in front of the President [Donald Trump], but it’s something we’re looking at.”
Pompeo also warned that people shouldn’t download the app unless “you want your private information in the hands of the Chinese Communist Party.”
TikTok is owned by the Beijing-based tech company ByteDance, and was launched back in 2016.
A TikTok spokesperson issued the following statement regarding the matter, to CBS News:
“TikTok is led by an American CEO, with hundreds of employees and key leaders across safety, security, product, and public policy here in the U.S. We have no higher priority than promoting a safe and secure app experience for our users. We have never provided user data to the Chinese government, nor would we do so if asked.”
So far, India has banned TikTok from their country.
President Donald Trump said the following, according to Fortune: “It’s something we’re looking at, yes. It’s a big business. Look, what happened with China with this virus, what they’ve done to this country and to the entire world is disgraceful.”
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