Coming Sunday, any moves to distribute or maintain WeChat or TikTok on app store will be prohibited. US just announced it minutes ago that WeChat and TikTok will have to be removed. Apple and Google didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment.
In addition, it will be illegal to host or transfer internet traffic associated with WeChat, the Department said in a release. The same will be true for TikTok as of Nov. 12, it said.
Further restrictions could still be announced later, including against other apps if they are seen to be used as workarounds.
The apps are still available on the app store but future updates won’t be downloadable within US.
Facebook, Youtube are not accessible within Mainland China for years. This tic for tac ban will surely annoy some overseas PRC chinese that uses wechat as a communication tool with their relatives back in mainland China. (WhatsApp and Line are the predominant apps in Asia).