Close on the heels of India banning 59 Chinese apps for posing a threat to national security and integrity, the US is also preparing to ban Chinese social media apps. This was disclosed by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Monday.
In an interview to Fox News, Pompeo said that US could possibly ban the Chinese apps and are seriously thinking about it.
“With respect to Chinese apps on people’s cell phones, I can assure you the United States will get this one right too, Laura,” he said. “I don’t want to get out in front of the President [Donald Trump], but it’s something we’re looking at.”
He also added that people should only download the app if they want their private information in the hands of the Chinese Communist Party. Pompeo’s remarks also come amid increasing U.S.-China tensions over the handling of the coronavirus outbreak, China’s actions in Hong Kong and a nearly two-year trade war.
U.S. lawmakers have raised national security concerns over TikTok’s handling of user data, saying they were worried about Chinese laws requiring domestic companies “to support and cooperate with intelligence work controlled by the Chinese Communist Party.”
In early June, Zoom, TikTok, UC browser, Xender, SHAREit, Clean-master were among 52 mobile apps which Indian intelligence agencies had asked government to block or advised people to stop using them. On 29 June, Government of India banned 59 Chinese apps including Tik Tok for engaging in activities detrimental to sovereignty and integrity of India.
