BREAKING NEWS: Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says US is ‘looking into’ banning TikTok and other Chinese social media apps amid security concerns
- The United States is ‘looking into’ banning TikTok amid concerns the social media platform poses a national security threat
- Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said he and President Trump are taking reports that users’ cellphone data may be being shared with Beijing ‘very seriously’
- The comments were made by Pompeo when asked whether the United States should be considering a ban on Chinese social media apps, ‘especially TikTok’
- ‘I don’t want to get out in front of the President [Donald Trump], but it’s something we’re looking at,’ Pompeo said
- The top diplomat added that Americans should only download the app ‘if you want your private information in the hands of the Chinese Communist Party’
The United States is ‘looking into’ banning TikTok amid concerns the social media platform poses a national security threat, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said late Monday.
Pompeo told Fox News’ Laura Ingram that he and President Trump are taking claims the app collects users’ cellphone data and then shares the information directly with Beijing ‘very seriously’.
The comments were made by Pompeo when asked whether the United States should be considering a ban on Chinese social media apps, ‘especially TikTok.’
‘With respect to Chinese apps on people’s cell phones, I can assure you the United States will get this one right,’ Pompeo said. ‘I don’t want to get out in front of the President [Donald Trump], but it’s something we’re looking at.’
The top Washington diplomat added that Americans should only download the app ‘if you want your private information in the hands of the Chinese Communist Party.’
Pompeo told Fox News’ Laura Ingram that he and President Trump are taking reports that users’ cellphone data may be being shared directly with Beijing ‘very seriously’
TikTok, a short-form video app owned by Beijing-based ByteDance, has been repeatedly criticized by US politicians who say they’re worried about Chinese laws requiring domestic companies ‘to support and cooperate with intelligence work controlled by the Chinese Communist Party.’
The app, which is not available for download in China, has sought to distance itself from its Chinese roots to appeal to a global audience.
TikTok has said previously that it operates separately from ByteDance and claimed its data centers are located entirely outside of China, and that none of that data is subject to Chinese law.
The app, which has been downloaded more than 175 million times in the US, says of its American users in the US, with a backup server in Singapore.
A spokesperson for the company told CNN in May that it thinks the national security concerns are ‘unfounded.’
Pompeo’s remarks also come amid heightened tensions between the US and China over the handling of the coronavirus outbreak, China’s actions in Hong Kong and a near two-year trade war.
TikTok has not yet returned a DailyMail.com request for comment on Pompeo’s remarks.
The app was recently banned in India along with 58 other Chinese apps after a border clash between the two nations.
Reuters reported late on Monday that TikTok would exit the Hong Kong market within days, deciding to do so after China’s establishment of a sweeping new national security law for the semi-autonomous city.
This is a developing story…