The video-sh🌳aring app TikTok could be staring at a potential national ban in the United States if it doesn't part ways with its Chinese parent ByteDance, according to repor🔯ts.
Reports in the The Wall Street Journal and other US news outlets on Wednesday🔯 said that the White House set an ultimatum: if T⭕ikTok remains a part of ByteDance, it will be banned in the United States.
The WSJ report also said that the Committee on Fore♓ign 🎃Investments in the United States (CFIUS), which oversees national security risks, unanimously recommended ByteDance divest from TikTok.
However, TikTok was dismissive of reports saying that such a move wouldn't help protect national security. "If protecting national security is the objective,ไ divestment doesn't solve the problem: a change in ownership would not impose any new restrictions on data flows or access," TikTok spokesperson Maureen Shanahan said.
US's stand on TikTok so far
The ban was reportedly first threatened under the-then President Donald Trump in 2020. Late last month, the White House gave all federal agencies 30 days to wipe TikTok off all government devices. The Office of Management and Budget called the guidance a "critical steꦅp forward in addressing the risks presented by the app to sensitive government data."
According to a report by BBC, American officials have ꦦraised concerns that data from the popular app could fall into the hands of the Chinese governmen📖t.
Some agencies, including the Departments 𝔍of Defense, Homeland Security and State, already have restrictions in place. The White House already does not allow TꦆikTok on its devices.
Congress passed the "No TikTok 🌸on Government Devices Act" in December as part of a sweeping government funding package. The legislation does allow for TikTok use in certain cases, including for national security, law enforcement and research purpos𒅌es.
(With inputs from AP)
