TikTok, WeChat bans starting Sunday will be limited in scope
- Users who have TikTok can continue to use it, but no upgrades or updates will be available after Sunday
- US Commerce Department orders effectively push the deadline for TikTok to strike a deal out to November
The Commerce Department announced early on Friday that as of Sunday, new US downloads of TikTok, owned by ByteDance, will be prohibited. WeChat will be banned from using services in the US necessary for the app to function. TikTok users who have the apps can continue to use them, but no upgrades or updates will be available after Sunday.
“The scope of the orders is pretty narrow, focused on US operations of the firms [and] apps, and not extending to their use in key markets like China or Southeast Asia,” said Paul Triolo, head of the geo-technology practice at Eurasia Group.
“The bulk of the TikTok restrictions do not take effect until November 12, giving more time for the restructuring of TikTok’s US operations and investments by US companies to take effect,” said Triolo.
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Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said on Friday morning on Fox Business that “the only real change as of Sunday night will be [TikTok users] won’t have access to improved apps, updated apps, upgraded apps or maintenance”.
