The Trump administration is considering banning TikTok in the United States due to privacy concerns. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo made the announcement during an interview with Fox News on Monday night.

“I don’t want to get out in front of the President, but it’s something we’re looking at,” Pompeo said, adding that Americans should only download the app “if you want your private information in the hands of the Chinese Communist Party.”

The administration may also ban other Chinese social media apps as tension between the US and China continues to worsen, most recently due to the coronavirus pandemic.

TikTok is currently owned by China's ByteDance, although the social media platform has attempted to distance itself from its parent company in recent months.

“TikTok is led by an American CEO, with hundreds of employees and key leaders across safety, security, product and public policy in the U.S.,” a TikTok spokesperson told CNBC. “We have no higher priority than providing a safe and secure app experience for our users. We have never provided user data to the Chinese government, nor would we do so if asked.”

The Trump administration ultimately fears social media apps like TikTok are sharing user data with the Communist Party of China. At the time of writing, TikTok specifically is among the most downloaded apps in Apple's App Store.

India recently banned TikTok and 58 other Chinese apps over security concerns, while Australia is considering a similar order.

It's also worth mentioning that TikTok users sabotaged President Trump's rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma last month, which could also factor into the stateside decision.

What To Read Next

  • Image on Highsnobiety

    Norse Projects' ARKTISK Sequel Has Landed

    Style
  • Image on Highsnobiety

    15 Women Who Are Killing the Hip-Hop Game Right Now

    Culture
  • Image on Highsnobiety

    Emma D'Arcy: "Clothes Are Armor For Me"

    Culture
  • Image on Highsnobiety

    A Ma Maniere & Jordan Have Mastered the Puffer Jacket

    Style
  • new balance 991

    These Pink 991s Are Our Spring Pick

    Sneakers
  • Image on Highsnobiety

    Here's What's New at the Highsnobiety Shop

    Style
*If you submitted your e-mail address and placed an order, we may use your e-mail address to inform you regularly about similar products without prior explicit consent. You can object to the use of your e-mail address for this purpose at any time without incurring any costs other than the transmission costs according to the basic tariffs. Each newsletter contains an unsubscribe link. Alternatively, you can object to receiving the newsletter at any time by sending an e-mail to info@highsnobiety.com

Web Accessibility Statement

Titelmedia (Highsnobiety), is committed to facilitating and improving the accessibility and usability of its Website, www.highsnobiety.com. Titelmedia strives to ensure that its Website services and content are accessible to persons with disabilities including users of screen reader technology. To accomplish this, Titelmedia has engaged UsableNet Inc, a leading web accessibility consultant to help test, remediate and maintain our Website in-line with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), which also bring the Website into conformance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

Disclaimer

Please be aware that our efforts to maintain accessibility and usability are ongoing. While we strive to make the Website as accessible as possible some issues can be encountered by different assistive technology as the range of assistive technology is wide and varied.

Contact Us

If, at any time, you have specific questions or concerns about the accessibility of any particular webpage on this Website, please contact us at accessibility@highsnobiety.com, +49 (0)30 235 908 500. If you do encounter an accessibility issue, please be sure to specify the web page and nature of the issue in your email and/or phone call, and we will make all reasonable efforts to make that page or the information contained therein accessible for you.