Why does the US want to ban TikTok? Trump says it’s to punish China for coronavirus
President Donald Trump said this week that he may ban the popular TikTok app to punish China for the coronavirus.
He made the comments during an interview Tuesday when asked about Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s call to ban the app, which is made by a Chinese company.
Pompeo, however, gave a different reason for banning the video sharing app, citing concerns over national security and Chinese spying during an interview with Fox News host Laura Ingraham on Monday.
“With respect to Chinese apps on people’s cell phones, I can assure you the United States will get this one right, too, Laura. I don’t want to get out in front of the president, but it’s something we’re looking at,” Pompeo said.
Asked if people should download apps from Chinese companies on their phones, the secretary of state responded, “Only if you want your private information in the hands of the Chinese Communist Party.”
In a separate interview Tuesday, the president responded to Pompeo’s call to be wary of Chinese-made apps. He said banning the TikTok app was “one of many” actions he’s considering to punish China for the coronavirus, according to Bloomberg News.
“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,” Trump said.
In a statement to McClatchy News, the company 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,” a TikTok spokesperson said by email.
India banned the app last month after clashes on its disputed border with China, CBS News reported. The Indian government included TikTok on a list of 59 apps it suspects China of using to spy on users.
