Commerce Department Prohibits WeChat and TikTok Transactions to Protect the National Security of the United States

In response to President Trump’s Executive Orders signed August 6, 2020, the Department of Commerce is prohibiting transactions relating to mobile applications WeChat and TikTok to safeguard the national security of the United States. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has demonstrated the means and motives to use these apps to threaten the national security, foreign policy, and the economy of the US. These prohibitions, when combined, protect users in the US by eliminating access to these applications and significantly reducing their functionality. As of September 20, 2020, the following transactions are prohibited:

1. Any provision of service to distribute or maintain the WeChat or TikTok mobile applications, constituent code, or application updates through an online mobile application store in the US;
2. Any provision of services through the WeChat mobile application for the purpose of transferring funds or processing payments within the US.

As of September 20, 2020, for WeChat and as of November 12, 2020, for TikTok, the following transactions are prohibited:

1. Any provision of internet hosting services enabling the functioning or optimization of the mobile application in the US;
2. Any provision of content delivery network services enabling the functioning or optimization of the mobile application in the US;
3. Any provision directly contracted or arranged internet transit or peering services enabling the function or optimization of the mobile application within the US;
4. Any utilization of the mobile application’s constituent code, functions, or services in the functioning of software or services developed and/or accessible within the US.