The Commerce Department of the United States of America has issued a policy announcement confirming popular messaging services TikTok and WeChat will be banned as of Sunday, September 20. The ban on TikTok merely prohibits app stores from providing downloads of the service. Meanwhile, in the case of WeChat, financial transactions are also prohibited in addition to other measures. The ban on WeChat is total while the restrictions on TikTok permit its continued operation. Download it now while you can and at your own risk as security updates from TikTok will be disabled as well!
Additional sanctions stemming from President Trump’s earlier executive order against TikTok are set to take place on November 12 and would similarly constitute a total ban on the social media giant’s operations within the U.S. This comes despite a recent deal with Oracle that is still under review by various federal agencies within the executive, including Treasury and Cfius. This likely signals that the deal is on thin ice and comes in conjunction with statements from Republican Congresspersons signaling opposition to the Oracle deal, likely due to the fact that it permits ByteDance to maintain ownership rather than resulting in a cut and dry sale as the administration had originally hoped.
The Commerce Department announcement makes clear that individual TikTok users should not expect to encounter any sanctions between the implementation of this initial ban and the potential implementation of a stricter ban in November. How this might last as well as whether a total ban will take place remains a mystery. As Cfius and other agencies within the government issue their findings regarding the security implications of the Oracle deal, which establishes the U.S. company with ties to Trump as TikTok’s “Trusted Technology Partner,” the decisions that the executive is likely to make will become clearer.
Trump, TikTok, WeChat, China & A World Of Uncertainty
Some observers expected the deal with Oracle to resolve the TikTok conflict, allowing Trump to claim a simultaneous foreign policy and domestic economic policy victory. However, as more details have emerged regarding the deal, reserved judgement appears to have been a good call. Relations with China remain sensitive as tensions continue to escalate within the realms of trade and beyond. Uncertainty under some conditions can damage a president; however, if the administration projects that the period of uncertainty is relatively well managed, due to long term considerations, and the result of sustained policy commitment, it can actually play well.
Time will tell how American citizens, the Trump administration, the Chinese government, and the world will view todays actions. In the present and near future, it is likely to play well with President Trump’s base as being ‘tough on China’ while looking strong to coastal elites as well as some others within the industry regardless of their party affiliation. In the end, the uncertainty regarding the TikTok deal will likely be resolved soon, potentially ending the immanent ban, as more information is revealed and the relevant players issue their findings regarding the security implications of the proposed partnership.
