The USA lifts the TikTok ban after president Joe Biden sign executive orders. He also signed fresh orders to shield the US ICTS supply chain from China.
Finally, TikTok has breathed a sigh of relief as the USA finally lifts its ban on the massively popular video-sharing app. Reversing the Trump Administration’s clamp down on the Chinese video-sharing app, Biden also signed new executive orders to shield US information and communications supply chains to safeguard US companies and citizens from China’s surveillance. Along with the TikTok, US also revoked the ban on the popular WeChat app.
“Today, President Biden signed an Executive Order (E.O.) to further address the ongoing national emergency declared in E.O. 13873 of May 15, 2019, with respect to the threat posed to the United States’ information and communications technology and services (ICTS) supply chain,” the executive order read.
“President Biden revoked and replaced three E.O.s that aimed to prohibit transactions with TikTok, WeChat, and eight other communications and financial technology software applications; two of these E.O.s are subject to litigation,” The documents further added.
The latest order follows a succession of reversals President Biden has implemented from Trump’s Administration in 2020. This latest action will officially revoke TikTok’s bans on Chinese applications and end speculations over their future in the US.
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USA Finally Softens On TikTok
Previous President Donald Trump ostracized TikTok as a threat app that could potentially jeopardize US citizens’ private data at the behest of the Chinese government. As a result, his administration tightened its noose on TikTok. In response, TikTok itself made multiple attempts to convince the US of its security operations and even went as far as suing the US Government.
Trump’s hardened stance had followed India’s initial ban on TikTok on June 29, 2020, along with other 58 Chinese apps after the military scuffle that took over 20 Indian soldiers’ life at the northern border. India permanently banned TikTok and many popular Chinese apps on January 25, 2021.
However, the executive order by US President Biden will finally end TikTok’s Trump era’s voodoo over it and freely operate in the US along with WeChat.
But it doesn’t mean the US stance against China has thawed. Earlier this week, the Biden administration has banned 59 Chinese military and surveillance companies recently from acquiring US investors or investments. The move has expanded the original list of 44 Chinese companies which were the victim of Trump in a November executive order.
The White House on Tuesday said the US would ward off any “unfair foreign competition” that compromises US supply chains, citing China as its major challenge.
TikTok has over 100 million users in the US and remains a core market for its growth and sustainability.
What is your opinion on the USA’s lifting of the ban on TikTok? The short video-sharing app has been scrutinized in many countries for political and social reasons. What is your take on TikTok’s influence in general? Let us know in the comments below.
