Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told Fox News’ Laura Ingraham last night that the U.S. was considering banning TikTok, one of the most popular smart phone social media apps in the world.
“We’re certainly looking at it,” Pompeo said, adding that the administration takes the issue “very seriously.” “With the respect to Chinese apps on people’s cellphones, I can assure you the United States will get this one right.”
“I don’t want to get out in front of the president, but it’s something we’re looking at,” he added.
Sec. Pompeo when asked if the Administration has considered banning TikTok: “We’re certainly looking at it.” pic.twitter.com/N9NmbDOka0
— Benny (@bennyjohnson) July 7, 2020
China has been accused of using TikTok to harvest information from users’ smartphones, for use by the Chinese Communist Party for intelligence purposes.
India recently banned TikTok and 59 other Chinese apps for precisely the same concerns.
They were blocked “in view of information available they are engaged in activities which is prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India, defense of India, security of state and public order,” that government said.
There have also been numerous international reports that Chinese tech firms compromise user privacy by installing spyware or malware that’s then used to track users without their knowledge.
TikTok has been downloaded over 2 billion times worldwide and 175 million times in the U.S. alone, according to Internet statistics firm Wallaroo.
Photo by Department of State