It looks like TikTok’s dream run, which lasted for nearly eight years, is about to come to an end. TikTok, along with WeChat, is set to be banned from US app stores on Sunday, the 20th of September.
The ban comes as a part of President Trump’s actions against China and is aimed to prevent the Chinese government from accessing the data of American consumers and businesses.
Reasons for TikTok Ban
TikTok is wildly popular in the US and has a large customer base, which includes US military personnel. Due to the claims that the app has the ability to track the location and biometric data of its users all over the world, and the fact that the data can be accessed by the Chinese government, many experts in the US believe that the app could be a major national security risk.
While TikTok’s parent company claims that the consumer data is not stored in China, the fact remains that the Chinese government has the authority to access the data, if and when it needs it.
TikTok was given an opportunity by the US government to strike a deal with Oracle in order to avoid the ban, but the deal has not been reached as of now. So, unless things dramatically change in the next 24 hours, TikTok and WeChat will certainly be banned from US app stores.
Possible Impact of TikTok Ban
The ban could be devastating for TikTok, as people will not be able to download it from Google or Apple stores any longer. Those who have already downloaded onto their mobile phone will not be able to update it anymore.
Additional bans on TikTok are also set to come into effect from November 12, if an agreement is not reached between Oracle and TikTok’s parent company. So, it is safe to say that the Chinese social media platform’s future hangs in the balance as of now.
