Exclusive: Trump to block U.S. downloads of TikTok, WeChat on Sunday - officials

[Dennis Donovan]

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-tiktok-ban-exclusive/exclusive-trump-to-block-u-s-downloads-of-tiktok-wechat-on-sunday-officials-idUSKBN2691QO?il=0

SEPTEMBER 18, 20207:34 AM UPDATED 11 MINUTES AGO

Exclusive: Trump to block U.S. downloads of TikTok, WeChat on Sunday - officials

By David Shepardson

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Commerce Department plans to issue an order Friday that will bar people in the United States from downloading Chinese-owned messaging app WeChat and video-sharing app TikTok starting on September 20, three officials told Reuters.

The officials said the ban on new U.S. downloads of TikTok could be still rescinded by President Donald Trump before it takes effect late Sunday as TikTok owner ByteDance races to clinch an agreement over the fate of its U.S. operations.

ByteDance has been talks with Oracle Corp and others to create a new company, TikTok Global, that aims to address U.S. concerns about the security of its users’ data. ByteDance still needs Trump’s approval to stave off a U.S. ban.

The Commerce Department order will “deplatform” the two apps in the United States and bar Apple Inc’s app store, Alphabet Inc’s Google Play and others from offering the apps on any platform “that can be reached from within the United States,” a senior Commerce official told Reuters.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because the announcement had not yet been made public.

The order will not ban U.S. companies from doing businesses on WeChat outside the United States, which will be welcome news to U.S. firms like Walmart and Starbucks that use WeChat’s embedded ‘mini-app’ programs to facilitate transactions and engage consumers in China.

</snip>

[C_U_L8R]

1. What a dumb move.

Did pouty petulant Donny not get his payola?

[malaise]

2. That should help to turn out the young folks votes

Please proceed Don the Lyin' King of Cons!

[Zing Zing Zingbah]

3. What's Trump's beef with TikTok? n/t

[Botany]

5. "What's Trump's beef with TikTok?" Sarah Cooper.

[Zing Zing Zingbah]

6. That was about voting, not TikTok. n/t

[Codeine]

7. TikTok is Chinese spyware.

Most security experts recommend against installing it on your phone.

[BComplex]

10. That's what the research has been showing.

I'm pretty sure that's not what trump is worried about, but that SHOULD be what he's worried about.

[Demsrule86]

13. That is not true...all my kids have ticktock...Trump doesn't like it because he thinks

they are the reason no one showed up to one of his shitty rallies. I don't doubt TickTok should be watched but Trump is far more dangerous.

[Codeine]

14. It is true.

Don’t take my word for it; go to any reputable tech site and they’ll tell you the same. My kids both have it (pick your battles, I guess) but that doesn’t change what it is.

Does Trump care that it’s spyware? Probably not — he has that other bug up his ass about it. It’s still spyware.

[Amishman]

12. It's a chinese developed app, though there are some legit concerns about it

There are pretty credible reports that it is also spyware reporting back to its creators. (which probably has nothing to do with Trumps tantrum over it).

https://www.forbes.com/sites/zakdoffman/2020/06/26/warning-apple-suddenly-catches-tiktok-secretly-spying-on-millions-of-iphone-users/

[bullimiami]

4. Free Market and Capitalist Republicans should be trembling. Dictator Don, by fiat,

shutting businesses he doesn’t like.

[Johnny2X2X]

8. This is a big mistake by Trump

There's no reason for it, he just has a personal bone to pick at the expense of his campaign.

[Budi]

9. How much did politics play a role? Oracle's ties to Mr. Trump are deep.

There's more to this story than Trump's telling us.
As always, follow the money. Oracle was rewarded for supporting Trump.
Oracle wanted to be a player like Microsoft.
Oracle wanted TikTok & Trump strong-armed a deal.
Question is: How much is Trump's cut in the deal?


FROM NY TIMES:

Is This How the TikTok Saga Ends?

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.nytimes.com/2020/09/14/business/dealbook/tiktok-oracle-deal.amp.html

SNIP
And then there was Oracle?
• As Andrew notes, Oracle’s bid resembles Microsoft’s original proposal of serving as a technology partner and minority owner — something that President Trump rejected, saying that TikTok’s U.S. arm had to be sold altogether.

How much did politics play a role?

Oracle’s ties to Mr. Trump are deep. Its co-founder, Larry Ellison, has raised money for Mr. Trump, while its C.E.O., Safra Catz, was the only major tech executive to serve on the president’s transition team.
Last month, Mr. Trump publicly supported Oracle’s efforts, calling it a “great company.”

More...

[Norbert]

11. I'm interested to know how he will do this.

You can't flip a switch and have it done. This isn't the telephone company.

[jmowreader]

15. Is Trump TRYING to lose this election?

There are not enough tea baggers and white supremacists to vote him back in. He needs young people...who happen to love TikTok. Fuckin’ with TikTok will not work out well for him.