According to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, the United States is “looking at” possibly banning Chinese social media apps, including TikTok.
Pompeo made the revelation in an interview with Fox News’ Laura Ingraham, who asked him whether the country should be considering a ban on social media apps from China. He responded that “we’re taking this very seriously.”
“With respect to Chinese apps on people’s cell phones, I can assure you the United States will get this one right too, Laura,” he said. “I don’t want to get out in front of the President [Donald Trump], but it’s something we’re looking at.”
Pompeo also added that people should only download TikTok “if you want your private information in the hands of the Chinese Communist Party.”
“TikTok is led by an American CEO, with hundreds of employees and key leaders across safety, security, product, and public policy here in the US,” a TikTok spokesperson said in a statement in response to Pompeo’s comments. “We have no higher priority than promoting 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.”
TikTok was downloaded 315 million times in the first three months of this year, according to analytics company Sensor Tower, giving it more quarterly downloads than any other app in history.
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