TikTok, WeChat To Be Banned From U.S. App Stores Starting Sunday

The Trump administration says the ban on the two popular Chinese-owned apps is to “safeguard the national security” of the U.S.

Tik Tok, We Chat Ban
Icons for the smartphone apps TikTok and WeChat are seen on a smartphone screen in Beijing, in a Friday, Aug. 7, 2020 file photo. The Commerce Department said President Trump’s proposed ban of the apps WeChat and TikTok will go into effect Sunday, Sept. 20, to “safeguard the national security of the United States.” The government said its order, previously announced by Trump in August, will “combat China’s malicious collection of American citizens’ personal data.” Mark Schiefelbein / AP Photo
Tik Tok, We Chat Ban
Icons for the smartphone apps TikTok and WeChat are seen on a smartphone screen in Beijing, in a Friday, Aug. 7, 2020 file photo. The Commerce Department said President Trump’s proposed ban of the apps WeChat and TikTok will go into effect Sunday, Sept. 20, to “safeguard the national security of the United States.” The government said its order, previously announced by Trump in August, will “combat China’s malicious collection of American citizens’ personal data.” Mark Schiefelbein / AP Photo

TikTok, WeChat To Be Banned From U.S. App Stores Starting Sunday

The Trump administration says the ban on the two popular Chinese-owned apps is to “safeguard the national security” of the U.S.

WBEZ brings you fact-based news and information. Sign up for our newsletters to stay up to date on the stories that matter.

The Trump Administration is banning the download of popular social media apps TikTok and WeChat starting this Sunday, the U.S. Department of Commerce announced Friday. Reset digs into the politics and real world implications of the change.

GUESTS: Roger Cheng, executive editor for CNET News

Cecile Shea, senior fellow on global security and diplomacy at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs