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Countries around the globe are considering the banning of Chinese-owned social media platform, TikTok. It comes after India announced the banning of the application as well as 59 other applications developed by the same country. Now, the U.S. has followed suit with Donald Trump announcing it would not be used in America due to “potential counterintelligence threats”.
The President confirmed with reporters that “as far as TikTok is concerned, we’re banning them from the United States. Well, I have that authority. I can do it with an executive order or that,” Trump continued.
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It was not before long however that TikTok responded to Trump via a Twitter video from U.S. General Manager, Vanessa Pappas. She has assured users that the popular video platform is not “going anywhere”. “We appreciate the support, we’re here for the long run and continue to share your voice here, and let’s stand for TikTok,” Pappas said in her statement.
A message to the TikTok community. pic.twitter.com/UD3TR2HfEf
— TikTok (@tiktok_us) August 1, 2020
Currently it is unsure as to whether Trump’s claims are accurate and when the application will be banned to Americans.
READ: HOW K-POP AND TIKTOK FANS BECAME POLITICAL ICONS DURING THE 2020 ELECTION
The U.S. Government regarded TikTok as a security risk when it was first released, after it was proved to put the information of users at a vulnerable and hackable position. Theorists believe that the application is merely posing as a social media platform and instead collecting crucial privacy information deliberately.
Stay tuned for further developments.
