President Trump stated on Friday that he will ban the fast-growing social media app TikTok from the United States as American authorities have previously raised concerns the service could be used as a tool for Chinese intelligence.
In recent weeks, US officials have voiced fears of the popular video platform being used by Beijing for nefarious purposes, however, the company has denied any links to the Chinese government.
Furthermore, media reports circulated earlier Friday saying that Trump would require the US operations of the app be divested from its Chinese parent firm ByteDance, but the president announced a ban.
Speaking to reporters on Air Force One, Trump said: "As far as TikTok is concerned, we're banning them from the United States." He also added he would that he would take action by Saturday using emergency economic power or by the means of an executive order.
Writer: Siddhant Gupta
3/8/2020
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