The White House gave a 30-day delay for federal agencies to remove Chinese app TikTok of the government electronics for fear of espionage. The Beijing government called the decision an “abuse of state power”.

Ban on using TikTok in the United States

White House Office of Management and Budget Director Shalanda Young released a Memo for “removing and disabling installations” from the app to share videos on devices operated by government agencies, a decision announced yesterday by Canada.

Also stipulated “prohibit Internet traffic” from devices to the application, the AFP news agency reported.

“We strongly reject the erroneous practice of the United States of generalizing the concept of national security, abusing state power and unjustifiably suppressing companies from other countries”Mao Ning, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman, said today.

The government ban does not apply to companies in the United States that are not associated with the federal government, nor to the millions of citizens who use the popular app, through which users share videos.

However, a bill recently introduced in Congress could “effectively ban TikTok” in the country, according to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).

“Congress should not censor entire platforms and deprive Americans of their right to free speech. and speech,” Jenna Leventoff, the organization’s policy adviser, said in a statement.

“We have the right to use TikTok and other platforms to exchange our thoughts, ideas and opinions. with other people in the country and around the world,” he added.
TikTok, owned by Chinese tech giant ByteDance, has become a political target over fears that the app – hugely popular around the world – could be used for espionage or propaganda purposes by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). ).

The first TikTok ban at the White House

The law signed by President Joe Biden last month prohibits the use of TikTok on official electronic devicesas well as its use in the House of Representatives and the Senate.

National security concerns about a Alleged Chinese espionage increased due to incident with Chinese ‘spy balloon’ which flew through US airspace and was then shot down.

The Government of Canada announced yesterday that effective today ban the Chinese app on the mobile devices it provides to its staff, alleging “an unacceptable level of risk” to privacy and security.

“On a mobile device, TikTok’s data collection methods provide tremendous access to content on the phone,” said Canadian Treasury Minister Mona Fortier.

Nail TikTok Spokesperson said the Canadian government’s decision to block the app was “curious” because it was taken “without citing any specific security concerns”, and regretted that authorities had not contacted the company before the announcement official. .