The U.S. Is Banning TikTok & WeChat Downloads This Sunday

TikTok and WeChat downloads are being restricted as of this Sunday (September 20).

Following executive orders by President Donald Trump to ban the popular social media platform, the Commerce Department plans to restrict access to both TikTok and WeChat over the weekend, CNN confirmed Friday (September 18).

“The Department said Friday that as of Sunday, any moves to distribute or maintain WeChat or TikTok on an app store will be prohibited. While users who have already downloaded the apps may be able to continue using the software, the restrictions mean updated versions of the apps cannot be downloaded,” the outlet reported.

“The only real change as of Sunday night will be [TikTok users] won’t have access to improved apps, updated apps, upgraded apps or maintenance,” Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said on Fox Business.

The restrictions targeting WeChat are more extensive.

“Beginning Sunday, 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. (The Trump administration is currently weighing a proposal involving ByteDance, TikTok‘s Chinese parent, and Oracle, designed to resolve the administration’s national security concerns related to TikTok; the deadline for a deal is Nov. 12.)”

CNN also notes that further restrictions could still be announced later, including against other apps if they are seen to be used as workarounds.

There was a recent acquisition of TikTok’s U.S. operations…