Biden overturns Trump era bans on TikTok, AliPay and more
Ban has been lifted but the apps in question will still be investigated by federal agencies
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After canceling thesale of TikTok to Oracleearlier this year, US President Joe Biden has signed an executive order revoking the previous administration’s bans on TikTok, WeChat, AliPay and seven other apps.
However, the apps in question aren’t out of hot water just yet as Biden has directed the Department of Commerce to evaluate any apps or software with ties to foreign adversaries and take action where appropriate.
President Biden’s new executive order replaces three separateexecutive orders signed by former President Trumplast year which blocked apps including TikTok, WeChat and AliPay from being listed on theAppleApp Store andGoogle Play Store. The previous executive orders also allowed for further measures to be taken to prevent these apps from operating within the US.
In aFact Sheeton the White House website, the Biden Administration provided further insight on the threat certain apps from China and other countries pose to US citizens, saying:
“The Biden Administration is committed to promoting an open, interoperable, reliable and secure Internet; protecting human rights online and offline; and supporting a vibrant, global digital economy. Certain countries, including the People’s Republic of China (PRC), do not share these values and seek to leverage digital technologies and Americans’ data in ways that present unacceptable national security risks while advancing authoritarian controls and interests.”
Securing US consumer data
President Biden’s latest executive order calls on the Commerce Department and other federal agencies to work together in an effort to create recommendations designed to protect against the collection, sale, transfer and access to the sensitive data includingpersonally identifiable informationand generic information of US citizens.
While the Biden Administration has repealed several of the Trump Administration’s executive orders so far, a recent order signed by President Biden expanded Trump’s ban onAmerican investment in Chinese companiesthat are believed to have ties to the Chinese military. In total, 59 companies have been barred from investment including those that create and sellsurveillance technology.
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Although this is a step in the right direction when it comes to protecting Americans online, it still remains to be seen as to whether or not President Biden will push forfederal data protection regulationfor the US akin to the EU’sGDPR.
We’ll likely hear more from the US government on this issue once the Commerce Department and other federal agencies begin their own investigations into TikTok, WeChat, AliPay and the other apps that were previously banned from US app stores.
ViaThe Verge
After working with the TechRadar Pro team for the last several years, Anthony is now the security and networking editor at Tom’s Guide where he covers everything from data breaches and ransomware gangs to the best way to cover your whole home or business with Wi-Fi. When not writing, you can find him tinkering with PCs and game consoles, managing cables and upgrading his smart home.
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