On possibility of TikTok ban, Pompeo cites national security; says 'evaluating CCP threat'

Two days after hinting that his government was considering a ban on Chinese social media apps like TikTok, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo stated this was a part of constant evaluation to ensure privacy of American citizens. He clarified that his comments on TikTok were in context of evaluating threat of Chinese Communist Party. Pompeo asserted that Trump administration shall take steps to prevent CCP from accessing private information belonging to Americans. Maintaining that is a project of real scale, he affirmed that communications infrastructure must be based on Western ideal of private property. 

Speaking to media, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo remarked, "With respect to TikTok, I want to put it in a broader context. We have been engd in a constant evaluation about ensuring that we protect privacy of American citizens and ir information. So, this doesn't relate to any one business or company, but rar to American national security. We are striving to get that right. comments that I made about a particular company earlier this week fall in context of us evaluating threat of Chinese Communist Party. We have talked about it in context of ZTE, in context of Huawei. We are w evaluating each instance where we believe that Chinese Communist Party does t have an easy way to access American citizens' phones, systems and healthcare records."

Read: Mike Pompeo Asserts US Will Hold China Accountable If Hong Kong's Freedom Is Suppressed

He added, "So what you will see administration do is to take actions to protect that information and prevent Chinese Communist Party from accessing private information that belongs to Americans. We have a big project because we have partners all around world. Our infrastructure crosses Chinese techlogy and n comes to United States. So, one should think about this as a project of real scale and importance. communications infrastructure of next 100 years must be based on Western ideal of private property."

Read: Pompeo Pushes For Arms Embargo At UN, Russian Envoy Says US 'knee On Iran's Neck'

India bans 59 Chinese Apps

Amid tensions with China at LAC,  Indian government on June 29 invoked its power under Section 69A of Information Techlogy Act read with relevant provisions of Information Techlogy (Procedure and Safeguards for Blocking of Access of Information by Public) Rules 2009 to ban TikTok and 58 or Chinese Apps. This includes Shareit, Kwai, UC Browser, Baidu map, Shein, Clash of Kings, DU battery saver, Helo, Likee, YouCam makeup, Mi Community, CM Browers, We Chat, UC Browser, Virus Cleaner, DU Cleaner, etc. According to Union government, this was a targeted move to ensure safety and sovereignty of Indian cyber.

Read: Pompeo Calls On China 'to Immediately End Horrific Practices' Of Sterilization Of Uighurs

Read: 'Master Of Lying': China Mouthpiece Trades Barb With Pompeo Over US-China War Of Visas