TikTok, Other Chinese Apps Could Get Banned in the U.S.
TikTok and other Chinese smartphone apps could be facing a ban in the United States, according to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
Secretary Pompeo made mention of the ban during an appearance on Fox News’ The Ingraham Angle last night (July 6.) Host Laura Ingraham asked Pompeo whether the U.S. would consider banning the popular video app following India’s ban and Australia considering a ban.
Secretary Pompeo said, “We are taking this very seriously and we are certainly looking at it. We have worked on this very issue for a long time, whether its the problem of having Huawei technology in your infrastructure — we’ve gone all over the world and we are making real progress getting that out — we had declared ZTE a danger to American national security.”
Secretary Pompeo added, “With respect to Chinese apps on people’s cell phones, I can assure you the United States will get this one right too. I don’t want to get out in front of the President, but it’s something we’re looking at.” Secretary Pompeo said people should only download the app, “…only if you want your private information in the hands of the Chinese Communist Party.”
In an email statement to The Washington Post, a spokesperson for TikTok said, “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.”
TikTok currently has about 30 million active users of its app in the United States.
