The US may ban Chinese social media apps, including TikTok due to Covid-19

The US may ban Chinese social media apps, including TikTok due to Covid-19

On Tuesday, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in an interview with Fox News that they are also ‘looking’ at banning Chinese social media apps, including TikTok and UC Browser, after India banned 59 apps, including prominent apps like Shein, UC Browser, Viva Video, and Tiktok. Pompeo also added, “I don’t want to get out in front of the President (Donald Trump), but it’s something we’re looking at.”

What are US lawmakers up to?

US lawmakers have proposed national security concerns over TikTok’s approach to user data. They said they are worried about Chinese laws claiming domestic companies “to support and cooperate with intelligence work verified by the Chinese Communist Party.” Pompeo’s statements appear amid increasing US-China tensions over the handling of the COVID-19 outbreak, China’s movement in Hong Kong, and an almost two-year trade war.

TikTok will exit from HongKong as well!

A spokesman told on Monday, TikTok will exit the Hong Kong market in few weeks as other technology companies, including Facebook Inc, have suspended processing government demands for user data in the country.

A TikTok spokesman said that in light of recent events, they’ve decided to stop executions of the TikTok app in Hong Kong,”

Hong Kong is a small and loss-making market for TikTok, that is familiar with the matter. In August 2019, TikTok said it attracted 150,000 users in Hong Kong.

Across the globe, TikTok boasts more than 2 billion downloads through the Apple and Google app stores after the first quarter this year.

According to the analytics firm Sensor Tower, the move was made because it was not clear if Hong Kong can fall entirely under Beijing’s jurisdiction.

TikTok was designed so mainland China could not access it. It was the central part of a strategy to appeal to a more global audience.

ByteDance also operates a similar short video sharing platform named as Douyin in China.

Although there are no such upcoming plans to introduce Douyin to the Hong Kong market, the app has a broad audience in the Asian financial center as Chinese on the travel and stays in Hong Kong.

India launched the boycott China movement!

After the tension between the Indian-Chinese army, India launched a boycott China movement and trade war against China. India banned over 59 apps that included prominent apps like Shein, TikTok, UC Browser, and Viva Video. The tension on borders at Galwan valley has caused this trade war against China.

What is the legal basis for India’s action?

The boycott has been forced under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, 2000, that is “Capacity to give headings for obstructing for free of any data through any computer resource.” Under this act, the Central Government or any of its officials extraordinarily approved by it.

It is fulfilled that it is essential to do, in light of a legitimate concern for sway and uprightness of India, protection of India, the security of the State, benevolent relations with foreign states or open request for forestalling prompting to the commission of any cognizable offense identifying with above, it might request any office of the Government or middle person to hinder for access by the general population or cause to be hampered for access by the open any data produced, transmitted, put away or facilitated in any computer resource.” 

What will be the impact of the ban?

Several applications on the banned list are top-rated in India, particularly TikTok, that has over 100 million active users in the country, primarily in the heartland. New social media apps such as Likee and Helo and the video chat app Bigo Live are immensely famous among Indians.

Many of these apps have Indian creators, for many of that is the only source of income. Many of these platforms have operational units and employees in India, and a few thousand jobs could be at stake.

Will the ban be permanent?

TikTok was banned in India on the Madras High Court order for a few days last year, but it came back soon after the court abandoned the ban. However, this action is complete and impacts more apps. It has been taken in particularly strategic and national security circumstances. It can be a warning to more prominent Chinese businesses in India and to China itself.

TikTok reactions on bans over it due to Chinese roots

TikTok that is not accessible in China, is attempting to distance itself from its Chinese origins to engage with a global audience and indicate its independence from China.

The short-video sharing platform said it would exit the Hong Kong market within days because other technology companies such as Facebook Inc, have refused to process government requests for user data in the region.

TikTok, owned by China-based ByteDance, has decided to exit the region following China’s business of an extensive new national security law for the semi-autonomous city. Currently, TikTok is operated by former Walt Disney Co executive Kevin Mayer. He clarified that the app’s user data is not stored in China.