Why is Donald Trump talking about banning TikTok in America?
President Donald Trump has said that he will ban social media app TikTok in the US ‘as soon as Saturday’.
Donald Trump told reporters: ‘As far as TikTok is concerned, we’re banning them from the United States.’
Mr Trump said he could use emergency economic powers or an executive order to put the ban in place, saying: ‘I have that authority,’ before adding: ‘It’s going to be signed tomorrow.’
So why has the President of the United States taken umbrage with a popular video sharing site?
Why does Trump want to ban TikTok?
United States intelligence bosses are worried that the Chinese-owned app presents a possible risk to national security.
The fear is such that US Government officials and workers at many corporations have been banned from downloading TikTok onto their work phones due to worry that their data could be sent to China’s government.
This comes after the US Federal Communications Commission dubbed Huawei a threat to ‘national security’, and moved to put sanctions on the Chinese-owned company.
The UK soon followed suit and dropped Huawei from the nation’s 5G network, with culture secretary Oliver Dowden telling MPs: ‘5G will be transformative for our country, but only if we have confidence in the security and resilience of the infrastructure it is built upon.’
He added: ‘This has not been an easy decision, but it is the right one for the UK telecoms networks, for our national security and our economy, both now and indeed in the long run.’
Meanwhile Huawei has long denied the accusations from the Trump administration.
TikTok was also in the headlines back in June after users tried to sabotage Trump’s rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by requesting tickets they did not intend to use.
When it comes to the possible ban, TikTok issued a statement Friday saying: ‘While we do not comment on rumours or speculation, we are confident in the long-term success of TikTok.’
MORE: Donald Trump warned he can’t delay 2020 US election even if he wants to
MORE: Donald Trump aide Herman Cain who played down danger of coronavirus is killed by it
Follow Metro across our social channels, on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Share your views in the comments below.