After waves of controversies related to a possible ban and discussions with Microsoft to take over the US operations, TikTok now has a new suitor.

Twitter, the California-based company, is in talks with TikTok to discuss the possibility of merging the two companies, according to reports published by a leading US media house.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/microsoft-planning-to-buy-tiktoks-global-business-reports-318751">Also read|&nbsp;Microsoft planning to buy TikTok's global business: Reports</a>

Few weeks ago, the US President Donald Trump had announced a ban on the short-video sharing app claiming that the app was a front for Chinese intelligence to snoop in on the US. Later, Microsoft came to the rescue of the Chinese app, announcing a possibility of taking over TikTok's US operations.&nbsp;

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However, there has been no confirmation on the possible take-over. Meanwhile, Trump has given a 45-days notice to TikTok to either sell or face the ban, demanding&nbsp;significant portion of the sale go to the US Treasury.

Now, it has been revealed by the US media that the social media giant Twitter, co-founded by&nbsp;Jack Dorsey, might be in discussions to merge with TikTok. Since Twitter is a smaller company than Microsoft, Twitter would have a long-shot bid for TikTok and would need support of other investors to acquire this deal. However, Twitter, in such a case, has the benefit of facing less scrutiny than Microsoft, due to its size.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-signs-executive-order-banning-transactions-with-tiktok-owner-after-45-days-318735">Also read|&nbsp;Trump signs executive order banning transactions with TikTok owner after 45 days</a>

Since the reports came out, people have been trying to figure out how the transformation of Twitter — an app that has very limited characters and upload size — look like if combined with TikTok — an app that usually has fun short videos.

This is not the first time Twitter has proposed such a deal. In 2012, Twitter acquired Vine, a similar app to TikTok, but had to shut it down in 2016.

There have been no official statements from TikTok and Twitter on this issue.

After waves of controversies related to a possible ban and discussions with Microsoft to take over the US operations, TikTok now has a new suitor. Twitter, the California-based company, is in talks with TikTok to discuss the possibility of merging the two companies, according to reports published by a leading US media house.

After waves of controversies related to a possible ban and discussions with Microsoft to take over the US operations, TikTok now has a new suitor. Twitter, the California-based company, is in talks with TikTok to discuss the possibility of merging the two companies, according to reports published by a leading US media house. Also read| Microsoft planning to buy TikTok's global business: Reports Few weeks ago, the US President Donald Trump had announced a ban on the short-video sharing app claiming that the app was a front for Chinese intelligence to snoop in on the US. Later, Microsoft came to the rescue of the Chinese app, announcing a possibility of taking over TikTok's US operations. × However, there has been no confirmation on the possible take-over. Meanwhile, Trump has given a 45-days notice to TikTok to either sell or face the ban, demanding significant portion of the sale go to the US Treasury. Now, it has been revealed by the US media that the social media giant Twitter, co-founded by Jack Dorsey, might be in discussions to merge with TikTok. Since Twitter is a smaller company than Microsoft, Twitter would have a long-shot bid for TikTok and would need support of other investors to acquire this deal. However, Twitter, in such a case, has the benefit of facing less scrutiny than Microsoft, due to its size. Also read| Trump signs executive order banning transactions with TikTok owner after 45 days Since the reports came out, people have been trying to figure out how the transformation of Twitter — an app that has very limited characters and upload size — look like if combined with TikTok — an app that usually has fun short videos. This is not the first time Twitter has proposed such a deal. In 2012, Twitter acquired Vine, a similar app to TikTok, but had to shut it down in 2016. There have been no official statements from TikTok and Twitter on this issue.

Twitter in talks with TikTok to discuss possible merging: Reports

India's external affairs minister on Saturday termed technology as "new parameter" to measure "power and influence" while adding that it can never be "politically neutral".

India's external affairs minister on Saturday termed technology as "new parameter" to measure "power and influence" while adding that it can never be "politically neutral". "Today there are new parameters and technology is certainly one of them because what they do is they create relationships, in some case dependencies, convergencies...technology has never been politically neutral, how one approaches it. At the end of the day there is so much interpenetration at one level and yet so much divisiveness and how you straddled that," he said. The statement comes amidst a global backlash by many countries on Chinese tech companies and apps. India in the aftermath of Galwan violent face-off 15th June banned 59 Chinese apps including popular Tik Tok. Countries are taking a position on Chinese technology firms and just last week US President Donald Trump issued orders banning Tik Tok and WeChat. Globally concerns and actions are being taken by countries like UK, the US, Canada and others on 5G by Chinese company Huawei. EAM speaking at the CII virtual event said, "We think technology is capability, but it is hugely security" Earlier this year, the ministry of external affairs ministry announced the establishment of New, Emerging and Strategic Technologies (NEST) Division to evaluate decisions on technology.

Technology is never politically neutral, says Jaishankar

China's video sharking app TikTok on Friday threatened legal action in US courts against President Trump's executive order banning "any transaction by any person, or with respect to any property, subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, with ByteDance Ltd" or any company in which it has an interest."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-accuses-us-of-political-manipulation-over-tiktok-wechat-ban-318816">Also Read:&nbsp;China accuses US of 'political manipulation' over TikTok, WeChat ban</a>

Trump has set a 45-day deadline for the order to come into effect.&nbsp;

"We will pursue all remedies available to us in order to ensure that the rule of law is not discarded and that our company and our users are treated fairly - if not by the administration, then by the US courts," TikTok said.

Earlier, China had accused the Trump administration of "arbitrary political manipulation and suppression" after the US president ordered restrictions against the owners of messaging app WeChat and video-sharing app TikTok.

"TikTok automatically captures vast swaths of information from its users, including Internet and other network activity information such as location data and browsing and search histories," Trump had said.

Trump had earlier given a September 15 deadline to TikTok to make a deal with a&nbsp;US firm&nbsp;with Microsoft being given the green light to buy the company's US operations. UK's Financial Times reported Thursday that Microsoft was interested in buying the entire global operations of the video-sharing app.

The US Senate had earlier voted to bar TikTok from being downloaded onto US government employees' telephones putting pressure on the Chinese company. &nbsp;The bill will now go to the House of Representatives for approval.

China's video sharking app TikTok on Friday threatened legal action in US courts against President Trump's executive order banning "any transaction by any person, or with respect to any property, subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, with ByteDance Ltd" or any company in which it has an interest.

China's video sharking app TikTok on Friday threatened legal action in US courts against President Trump's executive order banning "any transaction by any person, or with respect to any property, subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, with ByteDance Ltd" or any company in which it has an interest." Also Read: China accuses US of 'political manipulation' over TikTok, WeChat ban Trump has set a 45-day deadline for the order to come into effect. "We will pursue all remedies available to us in order to ensure that the rule of law is not discarded and that our company and our users are treated fairly - if not by the administration, then by the US courts," TikTok said. Earlier, China had accused the Trump administration of "arbitrary political manipulation and suppression" after the US president ordered restrictions against the owners of messaging app WeChat and video-sharing app TikTok. "TikTok automatically captures vast swaths of information from its users, including Internet and other network activity information such as location data and browsing and search histories," Trump had said. Trump had earlier given a September 15 deadline to TikTok to make a deal with a US firm with Microsoft being given the green light to buy the company's US operations. UK's Financial Times reported Thursday that Microsoft was interested in buying the entire global operations of the video-sharing app. The US Senate had earlier voted to bar TikTok from being downloaded onto US government employees' telephones putting pressure on the Chinese company. The bill will now go to the House of Representatives for approval.

TikTok threatens legal action in US court over Trump's executive order

Amid tensions with the US government, TikTok announced today that it will open its first data centre in Europe in Ireland valued at $498 million.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/bytedance-founder-defends-tiktoks-us-strategy-in-staff-letter-318168">Also Read:&nbsp;ByteDance founder defends TikTok's US strategy in staff letter</a>

TikTok expects the centre to be operational by 2022. Roland Cloutier, TikTok's chief global information security officer, said that the move "will create hundreds of new jobs and play a key role in further strengthening the safeguarding and protection of TikTok user data."

Watch:

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The announcement comes as US President Trump threatened to ban the Chinese firm unless its US operations is sold to a US company setting a September 15 deadline. The Trump administration has alleged that TikTok is a national security risk as it could share personal data of Americans with Chinese intelligence services.

The video-sharing app which has one billion users worldwide has vehemently denied the allegation set forth by the US government. US tech giant Microsoft is reportedly in talks with TikTok's parent company ByteDance to buy the China-based social media app's US operations.

Cloutier while sharing the Ireland move, said that "when our data centre is operational, European user data will be stored in this new location" while adding that "Ireland already plays a key role in our rapidly expanding European operations."

Cloutier said that the company was continuing to grow its "data protection and privacy teams".&nbsp;

Meanwhile, US secretary of state Mike Pompeo said that Trump government wants to ban untrusted Chinese apps from the app stores of US mobile carriers and phone makers.

"With parent companies based in China, apps like TikTok, WeChat, and others are significant threats to the personal data of American citizens, not to mention tools for CCP content censorship," Pompeo said.

Amid tensions with the US government, TikTok announced today that it will open its first data centre in Europe in Ireland valued at $498 million. Also Read: ByteDance founder defends TikTok's US strategy in staff letter TikTok expects the centre to be operational by 2022.

Amid tensions with the US government, TikTok announced today that it will open its first data centre in Europe in Ireland valued at $498 million. Also Read: ByteDance founder defends TikTok's US strategy in staff letter TikTok expects the centre to be operational by 2022. Roland Cloutier, TikTok's chief global information security officer, said that the move "will create hundreds of new jobs and play a key role in further strengthening the safeguarding and protection of TikTok user data." Watch: The announcement comes as US President Trump threatened to ban the Chinese firm unless its US operations is sold to a US company setting a September 15 deadline. The Trump administration has alleged that TikTok is a national security risk as it could share personal data of Americans with Chinese intelligence services. The video-sharing app which has one billion users worldwide has vehemently denied the allegation set forth by the US government. US tech giant Microsoft is reportedly in talks with TikTok's parent company ByteDance to buy the China-based social media app's US operations. Cloutier while sharing the Ireland move, said that "when our data centre is operational, European user data will be stored in this new location" while adding that "Ireland already plays a key role in our rapidly expanding European operations." Cloutier said that the company was continuing to grow its "data protection and privacy teams". Meanwhile, US secretary of state Mike Pompeo said that Trump government wants to ban untrusted Chinese apps from the app stores of US mobile carriers and phone makers. "With parent companies based in China, apps like TikTok, WeChat, and others are significant threats to the personal data of American citizens, not to mention tools for CCP content censorship," Pompeo said.

Amid tensions with Trump administration, TikTok to set up European data centre in Ireland

ByteDance founder and CEO&nbsp;Zhang&nbsp;Yiming&nbsp;is going through the worst phase of his life as his&nbsp;is creations are being banned abroad and&nbsp;is being called a traitor.

With an exit from the American market looking inevitable,&nbsp;told employees on Tuesday there were misunderstandings on Chinese social media about TikTok's situation in the United States and that the company could face more difficulties as anti-Chinese sentiment rose abroad.

Yiming's comments in a letter to ByteDance's Chinese employees came after the company and&nbsp;Zhang&nbsp;were heavily criticised on Chinese social media for entering into talks with Microsoft Corp to sell TikTok's US&nbsp;operations.

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"I actually understand (the criticism),"&nbsp;Zhang&nbsp;said in the letter. "People have high expectations of a company founded by a Chinese person which is going global but have little information about it. With lots of grievances towards the U.S. government, they tend to lash out at us with harsh criticism."

Since Monday, some users of China's Twitter-like Weibo have said they would uninstall ByteDance's Chinese short video app Douyin and news aggregator Jinri Toutiao because they believed ByteDance had given in too quickly to Washington.

Others urged ByteDance to learn from US&nbsp;giant Google, which opted to pull its search engine out of the Chinese market in 2010 after China asked it to censor its search results, rather than selling off its Chinese operations.

Zhang&nbsp;said some people had misunderstood the US&nbsp;situation. He said Washington's goal was not to force a sale of TikTok's US&nbsp;operations through the Committee of Foreign Investment in the US&nbsp;(CFIUS) but to ban the app, and there was a legal process ByteDance had no choice but to follow.

Zhang&nbsp;told staff on Monday in another internal letter that the company had started talks with a tech company so it could continue to offer the TikTok app in the United States.

US&nbsp;President Donald Trump initially dismissed the idea of selling TikTok's US&nbsp;operations to Microsoft but changed his mind following pressure from some advisers and many in the Republican party, because banning TikTok could alienate many young voters.

Zhang&nbsp;also told employees that over the last two years, anti-Chinese sentiment had risen in many countries and the company must brace for more difficulties in the current atmosphere.

A powerful inter-agency body in the US, had opened a national security investigation into TikTok back in 2019.&nbsp;This committee looks into the national security implications of foreign investment deals in the US.

The probe was over an acquisition of an American social media app musical-ly which Bytedance had acquired three years ago.

Musical - ly was later merged with TikTok. But, Bytedance didn’t clear the deal with the committee. And, it believes that bytedance must now disinvest the entire american operations.

Trump has set the deadline for&nbsp;Bytedance's departure, that is,&nbsp;September 15 otherwise, TikTok will be banned in America.

After India banned Tiktok, the company is on the verge of getting banned in&nbsp;Australia and Japan.

Hundreds of anonymous users joined in under a post about Zhang’s letter, cursing him as a traitor of China, an American apologist and a coward, among many other labels.

Netizens are angry with the impending sale of TikTok and&nbsp;are cursing him. Armies of angry people began bombarding Zhang on Weibo. Reportedly, their accounts was suspended.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
ByteDance CEO has hidden all his Weibo posts from the public, after patriotic netizens called him out for betraying Chinese interest for considering the TikTok US sale. 
 
A sign of this new era of techno-nationalism we are living in: <a href="https://t.co/traepYqUzd">https://t.co/traepYqUzd</a> w/ <a href="https://twitter.com/Colum_M?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Colum_M</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/bylijing?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@bylijing</a> <a href="https://t.co/76Z4H58EZ3">pic.twitter.com/76Z4H58EZ3</a>
— Zheping Huang (@pingroma) <a href="https://twitter.com/pingroma/status/1290474063073181696?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 4, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Earlier today, a tweet claimed that all Weibo posts from zhang are now hidden from his profile.

Some of Zhang’s Weibo posts from the early 2010s, which can be seen by some as liberal-leaning, putting the entrepreneur in the rank of “public intellectuals.” The term has in recent years been thought of as derogatory, as internet patriots see the group as ignorant and worshippers of western values.

Now, in the rest of the world that tag is considered as a compliment. But in China, it’s an insult because, Chinese patriots see public intellectuals as ignorant, and worshippers of western values.

Bytedance has not betrayed the homeland. Tiktok is being banned because it cannot compromise on one thing: complete loyalty to the Chinese state&nbsp;and the Communist Party.

In 2018,&nbsp;a meeting was organised by the internal party committee of Bytedance to&nbsp;“implement the spirit of national propaganda”.

Chinese law requires every company to set up party committees within their organizations. They must have three or more members of the communist party. That’s how the Chinese state makes its presence felt in every boardroom of China.

In the past, tiktok has been caught blocking criticism against the Chinese state by censoring videos, posts against the&nbsp;Tiananmen square.

Tiktok has&nbsp;been accused of advancing China’s foreign policy aims. Now, it is being forced to either sell its business, or go offline.

ByteDance founder and CEO Zhang Yiming is going through the worst phase of his life as his is creations are being banned abroad and is being called a traitor. With an exit from the American market looking inevitable, told employees on Tuesday there were misunderstandings on Chinese social media about TikTok's situation in the United States and that the company could face more difficulties as anti-Chinese sentiment rose abroad.

ByteDance founder and CEO Zhang Yiming is going through the worst phase of his life as his is creations are being banned abroad and is being called a traitor. With an exit from the American market looking inevitable, told employees on Tuesday there were misunderstandings on Chinese social media about TikTok's situation in the United States and that the company could face more difficulties as anti-Chinese sentiment rose abroad. Yiming's comments in a letter to ByteDance's Chinese employees came after the company and Zhang were heavily criticised on Chinese social media for entering into talks with Microsoft Corp to sell TikTok's US operations. "I actually understand (the criticism)," Zhang said in the letter. "People have high expectations of a company founded by a Chinese person which is going global but have little information about it. With lots of grievances towards the U.S. government, they tend to lash out at us with harsh criticism." Since Monday, some users of China's Twitter-like Weibo have said they would uninstall ByteDance's Chinese short video app Douyin and news aggregator Jinri Toutiao because they believed ByteDance had given in too quickly to Washington. Others urged ByteDance to learn from US giant Google, which opted to pull its search engine out of the Chinese market in 2010 after China asked it to censor its search results, rather than selling off its Chinese operations. Zhang said some people had misunderstood the US situation. He said Washington's goal was not to force a sale of TikTok's US operations through the Committee of Foreign Investment in the US (CFIUS) but to ban the app, and there was a legal process ByteDance had no choice but to follow. Zhang told staff on Monday in another internal letter that the company had started talks with a tech company so it could continue to offer the TikTok app in the United States. US President Donald Trump initially dismissed the idea of selling TikTok's US operations to Microsoft but changed his mind following pressure from some advisers and many in the Republican party, because banning TikTok could alienate many young voters. Zhang also told employees that over the last two years, anti-Chinese sentiment had risen in many countries and the company must brace for more difficulties in the current atmosphere. A powerful inter-agency body in the US, had opened a national security investigation into TikTok back in 2019. This committee looks into the national security implications of foreign investment deals in the US. The probe was over an acquisition of an American social media app musical-ly which Bytedance had acquired three years ago. Musical - ly was later merged with TikTok. But, Bytedance didn’t clear the deal with the committee. And, it believes that bytedance must now disinvest the entire american operations. Trump has set the deadline for Bytedance's departure, that is, September 15 otherwise, TikTok will be banned in America. After India banned Tiktok, the company is on the verge of getting banned in Australia and Japan. Hundreds of anonymous users joined in under a post about Zhang’s letter, cursing him as a traitor of China, an American apologist and a coward, among many other labels. Netizens are angry with the impending sale of TikTok and are cursing him. Armies of angry people began bombarding Zhang on Weibo. Reportedly, their accounts was suspended. ByteDance CEO has hidden all his Weibo posts from the public, after patriotic netizens called him out for betraying Chinese interest for considering the TikTok US sale. A sign of this new era of techno-nationalism we are living in: https://t.co/traepYqUzd w/ @Colum_M @bylijing pic.twitter.com/76Z4H58EZ3 — Zheping Huang (@pingroma) August 4, 2020 × Earlier today, a tweet claimed that all Weibo posts from zhang are now hidden from his profile. Some of Zhang’s Weibo posts from the early 2010s, which can be seen by some as liberal-leaning, putting the entrepreneur in the rank of “public intellectuals.” The term has in recent years been thought of as derogatory, as internet patriots see the group as ignorant and worshippers of western values. Now, in the rest of the world that tag is considered as a compliment. But in China, it’s an insult because, Chinese patriots see public intellectuals as ignorant, and worshippers of western values. Bytedance has not betrayed the homeland. Tiktok is being banned because it cannot compromise on one thing: complete loyalty to the Chinese state and the Communist Party. In 2018, a meeting was organised by the internal party committee of Bytedance to “implement the spirit of national propaganda”. Chinese law requires every company to set up party committees within their organizations. They must have three or more members of the communist party. That’s how the Chinese state makes its presence felt in every boardroom of China. In the past, tiktok has been caught blocking criticism against the Chinese state by censoring videos, posts against the Tiananmen square. Tiktok has been accused of advancing China’s foreign policy aims. Now, it is being forced to either sell its business, or go offline.

ByteDance founder defends TikTok's US strategy in staff letter

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Tuesday there was no evidence that Chinese-owned TikTok had abused the data of its hundreds of millions of users.

"We have had a good look at this, and there is no evidence for us to suggest... that there is any misuse of any people's data," he told the Aspen Security Forum meeting in Aspen, Colorado.

"There are plenty of things that are on TikTok that are embarrassing enough in public, but it's that sort of social media device," he said via videoconference, chuckling.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/australias-victoria-reports-deadliest-day-of-coronavirus-pandemic-318237" hreflang="en">Australia's Victoria reports deadliest day of coronavirus pandemic</a>

However, he said, Australians need to be "very aware" that TikTok and other social media platforms, including US-owned companies, reap enormous amounts of information on users and subscribers.

The difference with TikTok, he said, is "that information can be accessed at a sovereign state level," a reference to Chinese companies' legal obligation to share data with state intelligence services if they want it.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/white-house-says-unclear-whether-us-government-will-get-cut-of-tiktok-sale-318229" hreflang="en">White House says unclear whether US government will get cut of TikTok sale</a>

"But I think people should understand -- and there's a sort of buyer-beware process,&nbsp;there is nothing at this point that would suggest to us that security interests have been compromised."

Citing a national security threat, President Donald Trump on Monday gave TikTok's parent ByteDance six weeks to sell the app to an American company or find it shut down.

Microsoft is in talks with ByteDance, and any deal could include TikTok's Australia business. But Morrison downplayed the immediate threat.

"There is no reason for us to restrict those applications at this point. We'll obviously kep watching them."

Nevertheless, he stressed that people "need to understand where the extension cord goes back to."

Earlier, China's ambassador to the United States, Cui Tiankai, told the Aspen Security Forum that the US move to force the sale of TikTok violated free market principles.

"There is such a degree of political intervention -- government intervention -- into the market, there is such discrimination against Chinese companies, and these companies are just private companies," he said.

"To accuse China of not giving American companies a level playing field while at the same time they themselves are denying Chinese companies such a level playing field, this is extremely unfair."

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Tuesday there was no evidence that Chinese-owned TikTok had abused the data of its hundreds of millions of users. "We have had a good look at this, and there is no evidence for us to suggest.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Tuesday there was no evidence that Chinese-owned TikTok had abused the data of its hundreds of millions of users. "We have had a good look at this, and there is no evidence for us to suggest... that there is any misuse of any people's data," he told the Aspen Security Forum meeting in Aspen, Colorado. "There are plenty of things that are on TikTok that are embarrassing enough in public, but it's that sort of social media device," he said via videoconference, chuckling. Also read: Australia's Victoria reports deadliest day of coronavirus pandemic However, he said, Australians need to be "very aware" that TikTok and other social media platforms, including US-owned companies, reap enormous amounts of information on users and subscribers. The difference with TikTok, he said, is "that information can be accessed at a sovereign state level," a reference to Chinese companies' legal obligation to share data with state intelligence services if they want it. Also read: White House says unclear whether US government will get cut of TikTok sale "But I think people should understand -- and there's a sort of buyer-beware process, there is nothing at this point that would suggest to us that security interests have been compromised." Citing a national security threat, President Donald Trump on Monday gave TikTok's parent ByteDance six weeks to sell the app to an American company or find it shut down. Microsoft is in talks with ByteDance, and any deal could include TikTok's Australia business. But Morrison downplayed the immediate threat. "There is no reason for us to restrict those applications at this point. We'll obviously kep watching them." Nevertheless, he stressed that people "need to understand where the extension cord goes back to." Earlier, China's ambassador to the United States, Cui Tiankai, told the Aspen Security Forum that the US move to force the sale of TikTok violated free market principles. "There is such a degree of political intervention -- government intervention -- into the market, there is such discrimination against Chinese companies, and these companies are just private companies," he said. "To accuse China of not giving American companies a level playing field while at the same time they themselves are denying Chinese companies such a level playing field, this is extremely unfair."

No evidence of TikTok misusing data, says Australian PM Scott Morrison

After calling for a ban on popular video sharing application TikTok, Trump on Monday said that the US government ought to get a “substantial portion” of sales coming in from operating the app in the US.

If no sale happens before or on September 15, the US president has promised to move forward with the ban.

According to Reuters, TikTok reportedly is valued at $50 billion.

"I did say that if you buy it, whatever the price is that goes to whoever owns it, because I guess it’s China essentially … I said a very substantial portion of that price is going to have to come into the Treasury of the United States because we’re making it possible for this deal to happen," Trump said.

Moving headquarters?

TikTok owner ByteDance may move its headquarters to London from Beijing under a deal approved by British ministers.

According to The Sun newspaper, ByteDanceâ€™s founders are to announce their intention to set up shop in London soon.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-threatens-to-sue-nevada-for-mail-in-ballots-317967" hreflang="en">Trump threatens to sue Nevada for mail-in ballots</a>

The move is expected to upset US President Donald Trump who has considered banning TikTok in the United States.

Microsoft Corp said on Sunday that it would continue discussions to acquire popular short-video app TikTok from Chinese internet giant ByteDance, and that it was aiming to conclude the negotiations by September 15.

A buyout?

Microsoft had confirmed that the US-based company is considering to overtake the video-sharing app.

"Following a conversation between Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and President Donald J Trump, Microsoft is prepared to continue discussions to explore a purchase of TikTok in the United States," the company said in a statement.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trump-sets-september-15-deadline-for-tiktok-sale-317963" hreflang="en">Donald Trump sets September 15 deadline for TikTok sale</a>

Meanwhile, Trump has agreed to give China's ByteDance 45 days to negotiate a sale of popular short-video app TikTok to Microsoft Corp, two people familiar with the matter said on Sunday.

“Nobody else would be thinking about but me, but that's the way I think”, he added.

There is no clarity on how the US would receive part of the purchase price.

On Monday, TikTok said that it is "committed to continuing to bring joy to families and meaningful careers to those who create on our platform as we build TikTok for the long term. TikTok will be here for many years to come."

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trump-once-again-speaks-in-favour-of-reopening-schools-317915" hreflang="en">Donald Trump once again speaks in favour of reopening schools</a>

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, while talking about WeChat on Sunday said Trump "will take action in the coming days with respect to a broad array of national security risks that are presented by software connected to the Chinese Communist Party."

According to US officials, TikTok is a national risk owing to the personal data it controls.

After calling for a ban on popular video sharing application TikTok, Trump on Monday said that the US government ought to get a “substantial portion” of sales coming in from operating the app in the US.

After calling for a ban on popular video sharing application TikTok, Trump on Monday said that the US government ought to get a “substantial portion” of sales coming in from operating the app in the US. If no sale happens before or on September 15, the US president has promised to move forward with the ban. According to Reuters, TikTok reportedly is valued at $50 billion. "I did say that if you buy it, whatever the price is that goes to whoever owns it, because I guess it’s China essentially … I said a very substantial portion of that price is going to have to come into the Treasury of the United States because we’re making it possible for this deal to happen," Trump said. Moving headquarters? TikTok owner ByteDance may move its headquarters to London from Beijing under a deal approved by British ministers. According to The Sun newspaper, ByteDanceâ€™s founders are to announce their intention to set up shop in London soon. Also read: Trump threatens to sue Nevada for mail-in ballots The move is expected to upset US President Donald Trump who has considered banning TikTok in the United States. Microsoft Corp said on Sunday that it would continue discussions to acquire popular short-video app TikTok from Chinese internet giant ByteDance, and that it was aiming to conclude the negotiations by September 15. A buyout? Microsoft had confirmed that the US-based company is considering to overtake the video-sharing app. "Following a conversation between Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and President Donald J Trump, Microsoft is prepared to continue discussions to explore a purchase of TikTok in the United States," the company said in a statement. Also read: Donald Trump sets September 15 deadline for TikTok sale Meanwhile, Trump has agreed to give China's ByteDance 45 days to negotiate a sale of popular short-video app TikTok to Microsoft Corp, two people familiar with the matter said on Sunday. “Nobody else would be thinking about but me, but that's the way I think”, he added. There is no clarity on how the US would receive part of the purchase price. On Monday, TikTok said that it is "committed to continuing to bring joy to families and meaningful careers to those who create on our platform as we build TikTok for the long term. TikTok will be here for many years to come." Also read: Donald Trump once again speaks in favour of reopening schools Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, while talking about WeChat on Sunday said Trump "will take action in the coming days with respect to a broad array of national security risks that are presented by software connected to the Chinese Communist Party." According to US officials, TikTok is a national risk owing to the personal data it controls.

Trump says US should get a 'substantial portion' of TikTok sales

TikTok owner ByteDance may move its headquarters to London from Beijing under a deal approved by British ministers.

According to The Sun newspaper, ByteDance’s founders are to announce their intention to set up shop in London soon.

The move is expected to upset US President Donald Trump who has considered banning TikTok in the United States.

Microsoft Corp said on Sunday that it would continue discussions to acquire popular short-video app TikTok from Chinese internet giant ByteDance, and that it was aiming to conclude the negotiations by September 15.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/microsoft-confirms-exploring-buying-tiktok-in-us-after-trump-and-nadella-talk-317711">Also read | Microsoft confirms exploring buying TikTok in US after Trump and Nadella talk</a>

Microsoft had confirmed that the US-based company is considering to overtake the video-sharing app.

"Following a conversation between Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and President Donald J Trump, Microsoft is prepared to continue discussions to explore a purchase of TikTok in the United States," the company said in a statement.

Meanwhile, Trump has agreed to give China's ByteDance 45 days to negotiate a sale of popular short-video app TikTok to Microsoft Corp, two people familiar with the matter said on Sunday.

US officials have said TikTok under its Chinese parent poses a national risk because of the personal data it handles.&nbsp;

Trump said on Friday he was planning to ban TikTok in the United States after dismissing the idea of a sale to Microsoft.

It was not immediately clear what changed Trump's mind.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-to-give-tiktoks-chinese-owner-45-days-to-agree-sale-317737">Also read | Trump to give TikTok's Chinese owner 45 days to agree sale</a>

Microsoft, which also owns professional social media network LinkedIn, would become a major competitor to social media giants such as FaceBook Inc and Snap Inc were its bid for TikTok to succeed.

TikTok owner ByteDance may move its headquarters to London from Beijing under a deal approved by British ministers. According to The Sun newspaper, ByteDance’s founders are to announce their intention to set up shop in London soon.

TikTok owner ByteDance may move its headquarters to London from Beijing under a deal approved by British ministers. According to The Sun newspaper, ByteDance’s founders are to announce their intention to set up shop in London soon. The move is expected to upset US President Donald Trump who has considered banning TikTok in the United States. Microsoft Corp said on Sunday that it would continue discussions to acquire popular short-video app TikTok from Chinese internet giant ByteDance, and that it was aiming to conclude the negotiations by September 15. Also read | Microsoft confirms exploring buying TikTok in US after Trump and Nadella talk Microsoft had confirmed that the US-based company is considering to overtake the video-sharing app. "Following a conversation between Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and President Donald J Trump, Microsoft is prepared to continue discussions to explore a purchase of TikTok in the United States," the company said in a statement. Meanwhile, Trump has agreed to give China's ByteDance 45 days to negotiate a sale of popular short-video app TikTok to Microsoft Corp, two people familiar with the matter said on Sunday. US officials have said TikTok under its Chinese parent poses a national risk because of the personal data it handles. Trump said on Friday he was planning to ban TikTok in the United States after dismissing the idea of a sale to Microsoft. It was not immediately clear what changed Trump's mind. Also read | Trump to give TikTok's Chinese owner 45 days to agree sale Microsoft, which also owns professional social media network LinkedIn, would become a major competitor to social media giants such as FaceBook Inc and Snap Inc were its bid for TikTok to succeed.

TikTok owners may relocate to London from Beijing, Sun newspaper claims

The founder of Bytedance, which owns social media giant TikTok, said Monday his teams were working around-the-clock "for the best outcome" as talks on the sale of its US operation to Microsoft continue, Chinese media reported.

The founder of Bytedance, which owns social media giant TikTok, said Monday his teams were working around-the-clock "for the best outcome" as talks on the sale of its US operation to Microsoft continue, Chinese media reported. TikTok, popular in the United States and widely used by young people who create, share and watch short videos on the platform -- is the latest target in a wide-ranging trade war between Beijing and Washington. Also read: TikTok owners may relocate to London from Beijing, Sun newspaper claims The US government has said the Chinese-owned company is a national security threat -- allegations that TikTok denies. "In the current environment, we faced the real possibility of a forced sale of TikTok's US business... or an executive order banning the app," ByteDance founder Zhang Yiming wrote in a message to all the company's staff, tech news outlet Pandaily reported. "While we encounter mounting complexities across the geopolitical landscape and significant external pressure, our response teams have been working around-the-clock and giving up their weekends over the past few weeks to ensure the best possible outcome". Microsoft said Sunday it would continue talks to buy the US operations of TikTok, which has an estimated one billion users worldwide. The tech giant added it aimed to wrap up discussions "no later than September 15." Also read | Microsoft confirms exploring buying TikTok in US after Trump and Nadella talk President Donald Trump said last week he would ban the app, but since appears to have backed away from the threat, which caused great concern for US users -- particularly content creators who make money on the platform. Many have posted links to their Instagram or YouTube accounts to avoid losing followers if the platform is ultimately blocked. Zhang said he disagreed with forcing TikTok to offload its US service. "We have always been committed to ensuring user data security, as well as the platform neutrality and transparency," he said. "Given the current circumstances, we must also confront the CFIUS (Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States) decision and the executive order of the President of the United States, without giving up exploring any possibilities."

'Real possibility of forced sale of TikTok's US business': Founder Zhang Yiming

The US President Donald Trump on Saturday announced his plans to ban the popular&nbsp;video-sharing app TikTok. However, TikTok has assured that the app is not going anywhere.

Trump has been opposing the popular app claiming he fears that the app is being used by the Chinese intelligence through the app's owner company Bytedance.

However, a new deal is being considered between the White House and the parent-company Bytedance.&nbsp;Under the new proposed deal, ByteDance would exit completely and Microsoft Corp would take over TikTok in the United States, the sources said.

"The administration has very serious national security concerns over TikTok. We continue to evaluate future policy," the White House said in a statement.

To give an opportunity to the America-based investors, the deal will also allow these investors to own minor stakes in the business.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-plans-to-ban-tiktok-may-force-chinese-owner-to-sell-it-317388">Also read:&nbsp;Trump plans to ban TikTok, may force Chinese owner to sell it</a>

As the news spread,&nbsp;TikTok's general manager for the US, Vanessa Pappas, came forward to assure the users of the app that the company was trying to give them the&nbsp;"the safest app".

"We're not planning on going anywhere," Pappas said in a message released on the app.

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To save the app from a nation-wide ban, Bytedance is looking into selling its operations to a US-origin company. There have been local media reports claiming that Microsoft is in talks with the authorities for acquiring the app currently owned by the Chinese company.

However, Microsoft and Bytedance have not yet responded to the reports.

"While we do not comment on rumors or speculation, we are confident in the long-term success of TikTok," representatives of TikTok told the media.

USing the opportunity, Pappas also mentioned that in additiona to the current 1,500 employees, the&nbsp;company is planning to generate an additional 10,000 jobs in the US in the next three years to serve the growing number of users.

"When it comes to safety and security, we're building the safest app because we know it's the right thing to do," she said.&nbsp;

"So we appreciate the support. We're here for the long run, and continue to share your voice here and let's stand for TikTok."

The US President Donald Trump on Saturday announced his plans to ban the popular video-sharing app TikTok. However, TikTok has assured that the app is not going anywhere.

The US President Donald Trump on Saturday announced his plans to ban the popular video-sharing app TikTok. However, TikTok has assured that the app is not going anywhere. Trump has been opposing the popular app claiming he fears that the app is being used by the Chinese intelligence through the app's owner company Bytedance. However, a new deal is being considered between the White House and the parent-company Bytedance. Under the new proposed deal, ByteDance would exit completely and Microsoft Corp would take over TikTok in the United States, the sources said. "The administration has very serious national security concerns over TikTok. We continue to evaluate future policy," the White House said in a statement. To give an opportunity to the America-based investors, the deal will also allow these investors to own minor stakes in the business. Also read: Trump plans to ban TikTok, may force Chinese owner to sell it As the news spread, TikTok's general manager for the US, Vanessa Pappas, came forward to assure the users of the app that the company was trying to give them the "the safest app". "We're not planning on going anywhere," Pappas said in a message released on the app. × To save the app from a nation-wide ban, Bytedance is looking into selling its operations to a US-origin company. There have been local media reports claiming that Microsoft is in talks with the authorities for acquiring the app currently owned by the Chinese company. However, Microsoft and Bytedance have not yet responded to the reports. "While we do not comment on rumors or speculation, we are confident in the long-term success of TikTok," representatives of TikTok told the media. USing the opportunity, Pappas also mentioned that in additiona to the current 1,500 employees, the company is planning to generate an additional 10,000 jobs in the US in the next three years to serve the growing number of users. "When it comes to safety and security, we're building the safest app because we know it's the right thing to do," she said. "So we appreciate the support. We're here for the long run, and continue to share your voice here and let's stand for TikTok."

'Not planning to go anywhere': TikTok responds to Trump's ban announcement

Some investors of TikTok’s parent company ByteDance seeking to take over the popular social media app are valuing it at about $50 billion, significantly more than peers such as Snap Inc, according to people familiar with the matter.

Beijing-based ByteDance is considering a range of options for TikTok amid pressure from the United States to relinquish control of the app, which allows users to create short videos with special effects and has become wildly popular with US teenagers. The app’s success has helped turn ByteDance into one of only a handful of truly global Chinese conglomerates.

The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), a US government panel which reviews deals by foreign acquirers for potential national security risks, has raised concerns about the safety of the personal data that TikTok handles under its Chinese owner, Reuters has previously reported.

Privately held ByteDance has received a proposal from some of its investors, including Sequoia and General Atlantic, to transfer majority ownership of TikTok to them, the sources said. It has also fielded acquisition interest in TikTok from other companies and investment firms, the sources said.

The investors’ bid values TikTok at 50 times its projected 2020 revenue of about $1 billion, according to the sources. By comparison, Snap is valued at 15 times its projected 2020 revenue, at about $33 billion, according to data provider Refinitiv.

It is unclear whether ByteDance’s founder and CEO, Yiming Zhang, will be satisfied with the offer. ByteDance executives recently discussed valuation projections for TikTok that exceed $50 billion, one of the sources said.

TikTok is growing rapidly as it rakes in more cash from advertising, and its management team expects to achieve $6 billion in revenue in 2021, one of the sources said. ByteDance, which owns other apps including TikTok’s Chinese counterpart, Douyin‎, has set itself a revenue target for 2020 of about 200 billion yuan ($28 billion), Reuters has previously reported.

ByteDance was valued at as much as $140 billion earlier this year when one of its shareholders, Cheetah Mobile Inc, sold a small stake in a private deal, one of the sources said.

If a deal for the whole of TikTok cannot be reached, ByteDance is exploring divesting only TikTok’s US operations, one of the sources said. It is not clear what such a deal would be worth and what ties TikTok in the United States would maintain with its global operations.

There is no certainty that ByteDance will agree to any deal, the sources said. It is pushing ahead with structural changes that will further ringfence the US business of TikTok from its global empire, the sources added. These changes could include a new holding company for TikTok and an independent board, one of the sources said, cautioning that no decision has been made. The company has already separated TikTok operationally from its other apps through dedicated teams.

The sources requested anonymity because the deliberations are confidential.

ByteDance, General Atlantic and Sequoia declined to comment, while Cheetah Mobile and a CFIUS spokeswoman did not respond to requests for comment.

TikTok CEO Kevin Mayer said in a blog post on Wednesday that the company was committed to following US laws, and was allowing experts to observe its moderation policies and examine the code that drives its algorithms.

TARGET OF US LAWMAKERS

As relations between the United States and China deteriorate over trade, Hong Kong’s autonomy, cyber security and the spread of the novel coronavirus, TikTok has emerged as a flashpoint in the dispute between the world’s two largest economies.

Last week, the US Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs unanimously passed a bill that would bar US federal employees from using TikTok on government-issued devices. It will be taken up by the full Senate for a vote. The House of Representatives has already voted for a similar measure.

President Donald Trump and top administrations officials have said they are considering a broader ban on TikTok and other Chinese-linked apps.

ByteDance acquired Shanghai-based video app Musical.ly app in a $1 billion deal in 2017 and relaunched it as TikTok the following year. About 70% of the equity capital ByteDance has raised from outside investors has come from the United States, according to one of the sources.

Some investors of TikTok’s parent company ByteDance seeking to take over the popular social media app are valuing it at about $50 billion, significantly more than peers such as Snap Inc, according to people familiar with the matter.

Some investors of TikTok’s parent company ByteDance seeking to take over the popular social media app are valuing it at about $50 billion, significantly more than peers such as Snap Inc, according to people familiar with the matter. Beijing-based ByteDance is considering a range of options for TikTok amid pressure from the United States to relinquish control of the app, which allows users to create short videos with special effects and has become wildly popular with US teenagers. The app’s success has helped turn ByteDance into one of only a handful of truly global Chinese conglomerates. The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), a US government panel which reviews deals by foreign acquirers for potential national security risks, has raised concerns about the safety of the personal data that TikTok handles under its Chinese owner, Reuters has previously reported. Privately held ByteDance has received a proposal from some of its investors, including Sequoia and General Atlantic, to transfer majority ownership of TikTok to them, the sources said. It has also fielded acquisition interest in TikTok from other companies and investment firms, the sources said. The investors’ bid values TikTok at 50 times its projected 2020 revenue of about $1 billion, according to the sources. By comparison, Snap is valued at 15 times its projected 2020 revenue, at about $33 billion, according to data provider Refinitiv. It is unclear whether ByteDance’s founder and CEO, Yiming Zhang, will be satisfied with the offer. ByteDance executives recently discussed valuation projections for TikTok that exceed $50 billion, one of the sources said. TikTok is growing rapidly as it rakes in more cash from advertising, and its management team expects to achieve $6 billion in revenue in 2021, one of the sources said. ByteDance, which owns other apps including TikTok’s Chinese counterpart, Douyin‎, has set itself a revenue target for 2020 of about 200 billion yuan ($28 billion), Reuters has previously reported. ByteDance was valued at as much as $140 billion earlier this year when one of its shareholders, Cheetah Mobile Inc, sold a small stake in a private deal, one of the sources said. If a deal for the whole of TikTok cannot be reached, ByteDance is exploring divesting only TikTok’s US operations, one of the sources said. It is not clear what such a deal would be worth and what ties TikTok in the United States would maintain with its global operations. There is no certainty that ByteDance will agree to any deal, the sources said. It is pushing ahead with structural changes that will further ringfence the US business of TikTok from its global empire, the sources added. These changes could include a new holding company for TikTok and an independent board, one of the sources said, cautioning that no decision has been made. The company has already separated TikTok operationally from its other apps through dedicated teams. The sources requested anonymity because the deliberations are confidential. ByteDance, General Atlantic and Sequoia declined to comment, while Cheetah Mobile and a CFIUS spokeswoman did not respond to requests for comment. TikTok CEO Kevin Mayer said in a blog post on Wednesday that the company was committed to following US laws, and was allowing experts to observe its moderation policies and examine the code that drives its algorithms. TARGET OF US LAWMAKERS As relations between the United States and China deteriorate over trade, Hong Kong’s autonomy, cyber security and the spread of the novel coronavirus, TikTok has emerged as a flashpoint in the dispute between the world’s two largest economies. Last week, the US Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs unanimously passed a bill that would bar US federal employees from using TikTok on government-issued devices. It will be taken up by the full Senate for a vote. The House of Representatives has already voted for a similar measure. President Donald Trump and top administrations officials have said they are considering a broader ban on TikTok and other Chinese-linked apps. ByteDance acquired Shanghai-based video app Musical.ly app in a $1 billion deal in 2017 and relaunched it as TikTok the following year. About 70% of the equity capital ByteDance has raised from outside investors has come from the United States, according to one of the sources.

ByteDance investors value TikTok at $50 billion in takeover bid

Countries around the world want to make an example out of TikTok. The popular video app is facing bans with calls for a boycott in multiple countries and users around the world are abandoning the platform.

India was the first country to ban it, now others want to follow suit. Until India banned the app, it was ticking on its way to success. It was creating new social media stars and challenging the domination of the Silicon Valley but all that is history.

With India's ban, the fortunes of TikTok have turned for the worse starting with the United States. In the US, officials in the defence forces and the government cannot install the app on their phones but&nbsp;lawmakers are pushing for broader restrictions.&nbsp;

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The US lawmakers want a complete ban. There is no precedent of a network ban in the US as America has never cut off access to something via internet companies. It can introduce new regulations for app stores and create a new rulebook of sorts that allows the US government to ban apps.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, the committee of foreign investment has opened a probe into TikTok. It is a very powerful inter-agency committee in the US which reviews foreign investments on national security grounds, if Tiktok is found guilty, the committee has the power to compel the app to separate from its Chinese ownership that is, if it wants to run its business in America.&nbsp;

The US can in fact force TikTok to divorce its Chinese owners. Australia is another country looking to ban TikTok with lawmakers building pressure for a ban. It began with a report earlier this month with the Herald Sun reporting that one Australian lawmaker is pushing for a ban on TikTok since then others have joined and the chorus it is growing louder.

Senator Jim Molan has claimed that TikTok is being "used and abused" by the Chinese government.&nbsp;&nbsp;A&nbsp;lawmaker from the Labour Party called TikTok before a committee of lawmakers.&nbsp;

TikTok’s representatives were asked to face a panel and they were called to the select committee of foreign interference through social media. It is a committee which looks into foreign interference through social media.&nbsp;

A top executive has already left the company and Tiktok’s owner Bytedance has lost it head of artificial intelligence. Ma Wei-ying will leave by the end of this month.&nbsp;

Tiktok actually saw it coming. The company knew its links to China will hurt it at some point, so, it tried to create a distance between itself and the Communist Party. A separate app was created just for the Chinese market although Tiktok isn’t available in China but it has a different version of the same application called Douyin.&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
The company hired foreign executives to lead its operations. In May, the company hired an American CEO Kevin Mayer. He had earlier worked with Disney. Mayer is the CEO of TikTok and the COO of its parent company Bytedance with most of the top executives of TikTok being American citizens.&nbsp;

TikTok has hired an army of lobbyists in America to protect its business. TikTok reportedly had no lobbyist in Washington DC a year ago. Now, it has an army of more than 35 lobbyists there. It includes one lobbyist with deep ties to US President Donald Trump.&nbsp;

Countries around the world want to make an example out of TikTok. The popular video app is facing bans with calls for a boycott in multiple countries and users around the world are abandoning the platform.

Countries around the world want to make an example out of TikTok. The popular video app is facing bans with calls for a boycott in multiple countries and users around the world are abandoning the platform. India was the first country to ban it, now others want to follow suit. Until India banned the app, it was ticking on its way to success. It was creating new social media stars and challenging the domination of the Silicon Valley but all that is history. With India's ban, the fortunes of TikTok have turned for the worse starting with the United States. In the US, officials in the defence forces and the government cannot install the app on their phones but lawmakers are pushing for broader restrictions. × The US lawmakers want a complete ban. There is no precedent of a network ban in the US as America has never cut off access to something via internet companies. It can introduce new regulations for app stores and create a new rulebook of sorts that allows the US government to ban apps. Meanwhile, the committee of foreign investment has opened a probe into TikTok. It is a very powerful inter-agency committee in the US which reviews foreign investments on national security grounds, if Tiktok is found guilty, the committee has the power to compel the app to separate from its Chinese ownership that is, if it wants to run its business in America. The US can in fact force TikTok to divorce its Chinese owners. Australia is another country looking to ban TikTok with lawmakers building pressure for a ban. It began with a report earlier this month with the Herald Sun reporting that one Australian lawmaker is pushing for a ban on TikTok since then others have joined and the chorus it is growing louder. Senator Jim Molan has claimed that TikTok is being "used and abused" by the Chinese government. A lawmaker from the Labour Party called TikTok before a committee of lawmakers. TikTok’s representatives were asked to face a panel and they were called to the select committee of foreign interference through social media. It is a committee which looks into foreign interference through social media. A top executive has already left the company and Tiktok’s owner Bytedance has lost it head of artificial intelligence. Ma Wei-ying will leave by the end of this month. Tiktok actually saw it coming. The company knew its links to China will hurt it at some point, so, it tried to create a distance between itself and the Communist Party. A separate app was created just for the Chinese market although Tiktok isn’t available in China but it has a different version of the same application called Douyin. The company hired foreign executives to lead its operations. In May, the company hired an American CEO Kevin Mayer. He had earlier worked with Disney. Mayer is the CEO of TikTok and the COO of its parent company Bytedance with most of the top executives of TikTok being American citizens. TikTok has hired an army of lobbyists in America to protect its business. TikTok reportedly had no lobbyist in Washington DC a year ago. Now, it has an army of more than 35 lobbyists there. It includes one lobbyist with deep ties to US President Donald Trump.

After India, US & Australia eye ban on TikTok

TikTok’s troubles started with India but now it’s a subject of intense scrutiny around the world, not just because it’s a hallmark of China’s soft power but also because of the amount of data that TikTok collects.

As a result, the company could be sitting on an appalling amount of user data. TikTok's 15-second videos were quite the rage a few months back. They were one of the most popular social media apps. Tiktok was a massive hit among young adults but, now the company faces a backlash.

Tiktok has been banned in India and other rivals of China like the United States might ban it too and it's not just diplomacy that’s driving this "techlash". Security researchers have looked under the hood of TikTok as they fear the app is a data collection service masquerading as a social network.

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Apart from details about every video you watch, Tiktok has full knowledge of what you do on the app. It knows the contents of the private messages exchanged on the platform and according to the app’s privacy policy in the US, TikTok collects country location, internet address and the type of device a user possess.

TikTok can also map the exact location, access phone contacts, age, phone number and other social network connections. &nbsp;In June, more criticism came Tiktok’s way after it was found that the app was snooping on the clipboards of users. The feature allows someone to copy and paste data from one app to another. These privacy concerns have led to lawsuits. Last year, a class-action lawsuit was filed against TikTok in California.

TikTok’s Chinese origins don’t help either. Under China’s security law, the company will have to share user data, if the Chinese government demands it. The threat of snooping has led to several bans on TikTok

Beyond India, the US army and navy have banned it. The Australian defence department had banned Tiktok in January. Earlier this month, TikTok was banned from all American government-issued phones. Now, the Trump administration is mulling a complete ban.

"With respect to TikTok, I want to put it in the broader context. We have been engaged in a constant evaluation about ensuring that we protect the privacy of American citizens and their information as it transits, so this doesn't relate to any one particular business or company but rather to American national security, and we are striving to get that right," US secretary of state Mike Pompeo said.

A lawmaker in Australia wants Tiktok banned too even if the app is banned, there is another major concern. Data already collected by Tiktok will remain stored with the company something that could still be accessed by anyone who has access to the servers of TikTok.

TikTok’s troubles started with India but now it’s a subject of intense scrutiny around the world, not just because it’s a hallmark of China’s soft power but also because of the amount of data that TikTok collects.

TikTok’s troubles started with India but now it’s a subject of intense scrutiny around the world, not just because it’s a hallmark of China’s soft power but also because of the amount of data that TikTok collects. As a result, the company could be sitting on an appalling amount of user data. TikTok's 15-second videos were quite the rage a few months back. They were one of the most popular social media apps. Tiktok was a massive hit among young adults but, now the company faces a backlash. Tiktok has been banned in India and other rivals of China like the United States might ban it too and it's not just diplomacy that’s driving this "techlash". Security researchers have looked under the hood of TikTok as they fear the app is a data collection service masquerading as a social network. × Apart from details about every video you watch, Tiktok has full knowledge of what you do on the app. It knows the contents of the private messages exchanged on the platform and according to the app’s privacy policy in the US, TikTok collects country location, internet address and the type of device a user possess. TikTok can also map the exact location, access phone contacts, age, phone number and other social network connections. In June, more criticism came Tiktok’s way after it was found that the app was snooping on the clipboards of users. The feature allows someone to copy and paste data from one app to another. These privacy concerns have led to lawsuits. Last year, a class-action lawsuit was filed against TikTok in California. TikTok’s Chinese origins don’t help either. Under China’s security law, the company will have to share user data, if the Chinese government demands it. The threat of snooping has led to several bans on TikTok Beyond India, the US army and navy have banned it. The Australian defence department had banned Tiktok in January. Earlier this month, TikTok was banned from all American government-issued phones. Now, the Trump administration is mulling a complete ban. "With respect to TikTok, I want to put it in the broader context. We have been engaged in a constant evaluation about ensuring that we protect the privacy of American citizens and their information as it transits, so this doesn't relate to any one particular business or company but rather to American national security, and we are striving to get that right," US secretary of state Mike Pompeo said. A lawmaker in Australia wants Tiktok banned too even if the app is banned, there is another major concern. Data already collected by Tiktok will remain stored with the company something that could still be accessed by anyone who has access to the servers of TikTok.

Despite ban, TikTok's data mapping tools can still fetch user information

A group of top Republican US&nbsp;Senators on Tuesday ramped up pressure on TikTok, asking the Trump administration to assess the threat that the popular Chinese-owned video sharing app might meddle in US&nbsp;elections.&nbsp;

In a letter dated Tuesday, Marco Rubio, Tom Cotton and other lawmakers cited alleged censorship by TikTok of sensitive content, including a video critical of China's treatment of its Uighur minority, as well as alleged attempts by Beijing to manipulate political discussions on social media apps.&nbsp;

"We are greatly concerned that the (Chinese Communist Party) could use its control over TikTok to distort or manipulate (political) conversations to sow discord among Americans and to achieve its preferred political outcomes," the lawmakers wrote in a letter to the Office of Director of National Intelligence (ODHI), the acting secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="/world/japan-lawmakers-to-urge-government-to-put-curbs-on-tiktok-use-316682" hreflang="en">Japan lawmakers to urge government to put curbs on TikTok use</a>

A spokesperson for the company said that TikTok, though not a "go-to" for political news, was "proactively investing to safeguard our app" and taking cues from the experience of peers during the last election.

"TikTok already has a strict policy against disinformation, and we don't accept political ads," the person said, adding that content and moderation policies are led by a California-based team and aren't "influenced by any foreign government".&nbsp;

The FBI and DHS did not respond to requests for comment while an ODNI official confirmed receipt of the letter and said "we will respond accordingly."

Chinese foreign spokesman Wang Wenbin, speaking at a daily news conference in Beijing on Wednesday, said that China has no interest in the US&nbsp;election and urged certain people in the United States to stop "suppressing" Chinese companies.

The US&nbsp;lawmakers, joined by Republicans Ted Cruz, Joni Ernst Thom Tilis, Kevin Cramer and Rick Scott, asked the officials to say whether Beijing could amplify certain political views and conduct influence operations through the popular app, which is owned by Beijing ByteDance Technology Co.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="/world/despite-ban-tiktoks-data-mapping-tools-can-still-fetch-user-information-316551" hreflang="en">Despite ban, TikTok's data mapping tools can still fetch user information</a>

"If evidence emerges of CCP electoral interference via TikTok, would ByteDance be eligible for sanctions" under an executive order on foreign electoral influence, the lawmakers asked.

TikTok is in the crosshairs of the Trump administration as U.S.-China ties have soured over the pandemic and Beijing’s move to curb freedoms in Hong Kong. This month, White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows said action was imminent to address national security risks posed by TikTok.

Trump's poll numbers have been sagging as he prepares to face Democrat Joe Biden in the November election. In 2019, special prosecutor Robert Mueller's report found extensive cases of Russian meddling that benefited the Trump campaign in the 2016 election.

A group of top Republican US Senators on Tuesday ramped up pressure on TikTok, asking the Trump administration to assess the threat that the popular Chinese-owned video sharing app might meddle in US elections.

A group of top Republican US Senators on Tuesday ramped up pressure on TikTok, asking the Trump administration to assess the threat that the popular Chinese-owned video sharing app might meddle in US elections. In a letter dated Tuesday, Marco Rubio, Tom Cotton and other lawmakers cited alleged censorship by TikTok of sensitive content, including a video critical of China's treatment of its Uighur minority, as well as alleged attempts by Beijing to manipulate political discussions on social media apps. "We are greatly concerned that the (Chinese Communist Party) could use its control over TikTok to distort or manipulate (political) conversations to sow discord among Americans and to achieve its preferred political outcomes," the lawmakers wrote in a letter to the Office of Director of National Intelligence (ODHI), the acting secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Also read: Japan lawmakers to urge government to put curbs on TikTok use A spokesperson for the company said that TikTok, though not a "go-to" for political news, was "proactively investing to safeguard our app" and taking cues from the experience of peers during the last election. "TikTok already has a strict policy against disinformation, and we don't accept political ads," the person said, adding that content and moderation policies are led by a California-based team and aren't "influenced by any foreign government". The FBI and DHS did not respond to requests for comment while an ODNI official confirmed receipt of the letter and said "we will respond accordingly." Chinese foreign spokesman Wang Wenbin, speaking at a daily news conference in Beijing on Wednesday, said that China has no interest in the US election and urged certain people in the United States to stop "suppressing" Chinese companies. The US lawmakers, joined by Republicans Ted Cruz, Joni Ernst Thom Tilis, Kevin Cramer and Rick Scott, asked the officials to say whether Beijing could amplify certain political views and conduct influence operations through the popular app, which is owned by Beijing ByteDance Technology Co. Also read: Despite ban, TikTok's data mapping tools can still fetch user information "If evidence emerges of CCP electoral interference via TikTok, would ByteDance be eligible for sanctions" under an executive order on foreign electoral influence, the lawmakers asked. TikTok is in the crosshairs of the Trump administration as U.S.-China ties have soured over the pandemic and Beijing’s move to curb freedoms in Hong Kong. This month, White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows said action was imminent to address national security risks posed by TikTok. Trump's poll numbers have been sagging as he prepares to face Democrat Joe Biden in the November election. In 2019, special prosecutor Robert Mueller's report found extensive cases of Russian meddling that benefited the Trump campaign in the 2016 election.

US Republicans worry China might use TikTok to meddle in election

After banning 59 Chinese apps including TikTok, the government today in the latest move banned 47 more Chinese apps, taking the total number of mobile applications banned for being prejudicial to sovereignty, integrity and defence of the country, to 106.

After banning 59 Chinese apps including TikTok, the government today in the latest move banned 47 more Chinese apps, taking the total number of mobile applications banned for being prejudicial to sovereignty, integrity and defence of the country, to 106. The 47 additional Chinese apps that have been banned now were clones and variants of the apps which were blocked earlier. It doesn't end here, now reports are suggesting that the Indian government could ban over 200 other apps in the country. As per the report, the government will scrutinize more than 275 apps for National Security violations, users privacy and security breach is found in any of the apps. The apps failing the scrutiny by the government is most likely to be banned shortly. The report came as a shock to many Mobile Game enthusiasts in India as the list includes PUBG Mobile. But, why PUBG? It was the most common listed question on the internet as the news report surfaced. Let us have a close look at the origin of the game and why it stands on the edge of losing one of its biggest user base globally. Origin of PUBG PUBG (video game) was developed and published by PUBG Corporation, a subsidiary of the South Korean video game company Bluehole Studio which is now unified under a gaming brand named Krafton Game Union. Difference between PUBG and PUBG Mobile After the initial success of the game, it was introduced in China and later faced a ban by the Chinese Government. China's Audio-Video and Digital Publishing Association said, PUBG, is "a serious deviation from our socialist core values and the traditional Chinese culture and ethical norms." The agency also said that the game can cause serious harm to the physical and mental health of young consumers. It was then when Tencent Games, the video game publishing division of Tencent Holdings, which is also a Chinese multinational conglomerate secured the rights to distribute PUBG in China after changing the game. By that time the Chinese giant had also planned to develop the Mobile version of the game for the Chinese community, i.e., PUBG Mobile. The mobile version was released in China and became an instant hit and then later on released it worldwide in early 2018. Hence when the game is launched, the players first see the Tencent Logo and then the PUBG Corporation logo. Tencent Games also bought a 10% stake in Bluehole, in mid-2018. It is reported that the Tencent Games earned $1.3 billion from PUBG Mobile in 2019. Does that mean PUBG Mobile is a Chinese App? Yes! PUBG Mobile is backed by Tencent Games which is the video game publishing division of Tencent Holdings, a Chinese Company. While it can be safely said that the "origin" of the game didn't happen in China, PUBG Mobile might face a ban in India because of its China links. There still is no confirmation from the government over the media reports. If banned, India would be joining its neighbour Pakistan in banning the Chinese APP. Pakistani gamers are already up in arms against the government over the continued ban on popular mobile game PUBG despite court's order to suspend the ban. The ban was imposed on July 1 by the Pakistani Telecommunication Authority (PTA) after complaints of parents who said the children were addicted to the game. However, a Pakistani court on Friday suspended the ban and directed the telecom watchdog PTA to restore the game. Despite the orders, the ban remains in place, irking the gamers who have now taken to Twitter urging Prime Minister Imran Khan to restore the game under #ImranKhanPUBGKholo.

After ban on Chinese apps, why Tencent-backed PUBG Mobile may be axed in India

TikTok unveiled plans for a $200 million "creator fund" to add content from emerging social media personalities to the fast-growing video-sharing app.

The new US fund will "help support ambitious creators who are seeking opportunities to foster a livelihood through their innovative content," said Vanessa Pappas, general manager of TikTok US.

The move comes with TikTok seeing strong momentum, especially among young smartphone users, even as US lawmakers and officials step up warnings about its links to China.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-senate-committee-approves-bill-banning-tiktok-for-federal-employees-315221">US Senate Committee approves bill banning TikTok for federal employees</a>

Pappas said that with the fund, "our creators will be able to realize additional earnings that help reward the care and dedication they put into creatively connecting with an audience that's inspired by their ideas."

The fund will be open in August to US applicants 18 years or older who have a platform following, and post original content in line with its community guidelines. 
The move could help ramp up interest in TikTok, which has seen its user base grow to an estimated one billion.

Until now, TikTok has been using the model of Facebook-owned Instagram, which allows creators to post sponsored videos but without direct remuneration from the platform.

TikTok said this week it plans to add some 10,000 US jobs over the next three years, as it battles complaints over its ties to China.

A unit of China-based holding ByteDance, TikTok has been banned in India and US officials have said they were looking at possible actions against the app.

The US Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs&nbsp;unanimously voted on Wednesday to approve a bill to ban federal employees from using China's video-sharing app TikTok on government-issued devices.&nbsp;

Amid reports of a possible spinoff or buyout of the app, TikTok has said the company's structure is under review.

TikTok unveiled plans for a $200 million "creator fund" to add content from emerging social media personalities to the fast-growing video-sharing app. The new US fund will "help support ambitious creators who are seeking opportunities to foster a livelihood through their innovative content," said Vanessa Pappas, general manager of TikTok US.

TikTok unveiled plans for a $200 million "creator fund" to add content from emerging social media personalities to the fast-growing video-sharing app. The new US fund will "help support ambitious creators who are seeking opportunities to foster a livelihood through their innovative content," said Vanessa Pappas, general manager of TikTok US. The move comes with TikTok seeing strong momentum, especially among young smartphone users, even as US lawmakers and officials step up warnings about its links to China. Also read: US Senate Committee approves bill banning TikTok for federal employees Pappas said that with the fund, "our creators will be able to realize additional earnings that help reward the care and dedication they put into creatively connecting with an audience that's inspired by their ideas." The fund will be open in August to US applicants 18 years or older who have a platform following, and post original content in line with its community guidelines. The move could help ramp up interest in TikTok, which has seen its user base grow to an estimated one billion. Until now, TikTok has been using the model of Facebook-owned Instagram, which allows creators to post sponsored videos but without direct remuneration from the platform. TikTok said this week it plans to add some 10,000 US jobs over the next three years, as it battles complaints over its ties to China. A unit of China-based holding ByteDance, TikTok has been banned in India and US officials have said they were looking at possible actions against the app. The US Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs unanimously voted on Wednesday to approve a bill to ban federal employees from using China's video-sharing app TikTok on government-issued devices. Amid reports of a possible spinoff or buyout of the app, TikTok has said the company's structure is under review.

TikTok launches $200 million fund for US creators despite Senate ban

Pakistan's telecommunications regulator on Monday issued a "final warning" to TikTok over "immoral" content posted on the platform. TikTok, owned by China-based ByteDance, is already facing problems with authorities in a number of countries including in Australia, India, and the United States due to security and privacy issues.

Pakistan's telecommunications regulator on Monday issued a "final warning" to TikTok over "immoral" content posted on the platform. TikTok, owned by China-based ByteDance, is already facing problems with authorities in a number of countries including in Australia, India, and the United States due to security and privacy issues. The Indian government recently banned the app. Also read: With India's TikTok ban, Chinese parent company ByteDance could lose up to $6 billion Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) said in a statement that it had sent TikTok to moderate content on their platforms after receiving complaints, but their response was unsatisfactory. "PTA has decided to immediately block Bigo and issue final warning to TikTok to put in place a comprehensive mechanism to control obscenity, vulgarity and immorality through its social media application," the statement said. TikTok is one of the world's most popular social media apps, with over 2 billion downloads globally. Also read: TikTok in talks with UK government for new headquarters in London: Sources In Pakistan, it has been downloaded almost 39 million times and is the third-most downloaded app over the past year after WhatsApp and Facebook, according to analytics firm Sensor Tower. Though Pakistan is a socially conservative, mostly Muslim nation, it shares close ties with communist-ruled China. Pakistan counts China as its largest investor and most reliable ally. (With inputs from Reuters)

'Unsatisfactory response' prompts Pak to issue final warning to TikTok over 'immoral' content

Hard days for the video-sharing app TikTok are not coming to an end. After India banned the app and the US is looking at a possible ban, Australia too has expressed concern over app's&nbsp;safety issues.

TikTok is owned by a Chinese company called ByteDance and has been alleged of sharing customer data with the Chinese government.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/tiktok-in-talks-with-uk-government-for-new-headquarters-in-london-sources-314485">Also read|&nbsp;TikTok in talks with UK government for new headquarters in London: Sources</a>

The company opened an office in Australia in the&nbsp;recent weeks. After the new office was established, offices of both the Home Affairs and Attorney-General are discussing TikTok's operations, the sources said.

Talking about how the government is strictly looking at the privacy issues,&nbsp;Prime Minister Scott Morrison said,&nbsp;"If we consider there is a need to take further action than we are taking now, then I can tell you we won`t be shy about it."

This scrutiny has come after Labor Senator Jenny McAllister urged the government to look into the app's data-sharing app noting that noting 1.6 million young Australians used the app. "Some of these approaches to moderating content might be inconsistent with Australian values," she said in a local radio interview.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/tiktok-may-leave-chinese-parent-company-to-avoid-us-ban-trump-adviser-313981">Also read|&nbsp;TikTok may leave Chinese parent company to avoid US ban: Trump adviser</a>

"For example, removing material about Tiananmen Square, or deprioritising material about Hong Kong protests," she added, referring to student protests in Beijing in 1989 and pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong over the past year.

However, TikTok Australia's&nbsp;General Manager Lee Hunter has written to the Australian government assuring that the company will cooperate, but also raised concern that the app&nbsp;was "being used as a political football".

Hard days for the video-sharing app TikTok are not coming to an end. After India banned the app and the US is looking at a possible ban, Australia too has expressed concern over app's safety issues.

Hard days for the video-sharing app TikTok are not coming to an end. After India banned the app and the US is looking at a possible ban, Australia too has expressed concern over app's safety issues. TikTok is owned by a Chinese company called ByteDance and has been alleged of sharing customer data with the Chinese government. Also read| TikTok in talks with UK government for new headquarters in London: Sources The company opened an office in Australia in the recent weeks. After the new office was established, offices of both the Home Affairs and Attorney-General are discussing TikTok's operations, the sources said. Talking about how the government is strictly looking at the privacy issues, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said, "If we consider there is a need to take further action than we are taking now, then I can tell you we won`t be shy about it." This scrutiny has come after Labor Senator Jenny McAllister urged the government to look into the app's data-sharing app noting that noting 1.6 million young Australians used the app. "Some of these approaches to moderating content might be inconsistent with Australian values," she said in a local radio interview. Also read| TikTok may leave Chinese parent company to avoid US ban: Trump adviser "For example, removing material about Tiananmen Square, or deprioritising material about Hong Kong protests," she added, referring to student protests in Beijing in 1989 and pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong over the past year. However, TikTok Australia's General Manager Lee Hunter has written to the Australian government assuring that the company will cooperate, but also raised concern that the app was "being used as a political football".

TikTok faces scrutiny in Australia after India and US raise question on data security

Amid the recent controversies&nbsp;of data sharing and ownership by Chinese company, TikTok is now looking for a new place to park their headquarter offices at.

As per few reports, the multimedia sharing app has been in talks with the UK government to establish their new headquarters in the capital city London.

The move is being understood as yet another try of the company to distance itself from the controversies surrounding it regarding its Chinese ownership.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/tiktok-may-leave-chinese-parent-company-to-avoid-us-ban-trump-adviser-313981">Also read|&nbsp;TikTok may leave Chinese parent company to avoid US ban: Trump adviser</a>

Sources have revealed that London is one of many destinations that the company is looking at. However, no final decision has been taken yet.

No other name of any other city has been revealed. However, some believe that California may be one of the desired locations as the company has hired quite a lot of employees in state of California this year, including poaching Kevin Mayer, a former Walt Disney Co executive, to be TikTok’s chief executive. He is based in the United States.

California is also a desired location as a strategy to put an end to the controversies floating around in the US regarding its possible ban in the country due to its&nbsp;Chinese ownership.

The company, which is already banned in India, is owned by Chinese company called ByteDance.

TikTok has not issued any official statement regarding this, and has refused the request of a comment to various local media organisations.

Amid the recent controversies of data sharing and ownership by Chinese company, TikTok is now looking for a new place to park their headquarter offices at. As per few reports, the multimedia sharing app has been in talks with the UK government to establish their new headquarters in the capital city London.

Amid the recent controversies of data sharing and ownership by Chinese company, TikTok is now looking for a new place to park their headquarter offices at. As per few reports, the multimedia sharing app has been in talks with the UK government to establish their new headquarters in the capital city London. The move is being understood as yet another try of the company to distance itself from the controversies surrounding it regarding its Chinese ownership. Also read| TikTok may leave Chinese parent company to avoid US ban: Trump adviser Sources have revealed that London is one of many destinations that the company is looking at. However, no final decision has been taken yet. No other name of any other city has been revealed. However, some believe that California may be one of the desired locations as the company has hired quite a lot of employees in state of California this year, including poaching Kevin Mayer, a former Walt Disney Co executive, to be TikTok’s chief executive. He is based in the United States. California is also a desired location as a strategy to put an end to the controversies floating around in the US regarding its possible ban in the country due to its Chinese ownership. The company, which is already banned in India, is owned by Chinese company called ByteDance. TikTok has not issued any official statement regarding this, and has refused the request of a comment to various local media organisations.

TikTok in talks with UK government for new headquarters in London: Sources

US President Donald Trump's economic adviser Larry Kudlow has said that TikTok may cut off ties to its Chinese parent and become a 100 per cent American company to circumvent demands to ban it as India has done. 
 
"I think TikTok is going to pull out of the holding company which is China-run and operate as an independent American company," he told reporters at the White House on Thursday.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-attorney-general-blasts-american-firms-for-kowtowing-to-beijing-313919">US attorney general blasts American firms for 'kowtowing' to Beijing</a>

The US has not made a final decision on whether to ban it, which has been suggested by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, he said. 
 
TikTok being divested by ByteDance Technology Company "is a much better solution than banning or pushing away", said Kudlow, who is the Director of the National Economic Council.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-administration-action-on-risks-posed-by-tiktok-likely-in-weeks-white-house-313604">Trump administration action on risks posed by TikTok likely 'in weeks': White House</a>

He said that its services will be located in the US and "it will become an hundred per cent American company". 
 
If it becomes a US company without Chinese links, India may have to reconsider the ban on the short video app wildly popular in the country. 
 
India banned TikTok along with 58 other Chinese apps on June 29 citing threats to its defence and national security. 
 
The ban came after a deadly clash between Indian and Chinese troops along the Line of Actual Control in Ladakh. 
 
Under Beijing's National Security Law, all Chinese companies have to provide intelligence requested by the government, creating risks for users and their countries. 
 
India was TikTok's biggest market outside of China, where it operates as Douyin. There were about 200 million users in India and over 300 million downloads. The United States comes next with over 30 million users for the app.

US President Donald Trump's economic adviser Larry Kudlow has said that TikTok may cut off ties to its Chinese parent and become a 100 per cent American company to circumvent demands to ban it as India has done.

US President Donald Trump's economic adviser Larry Kudlow has said that TikTok may cut off ties to its Chinese parent and become a 100 per cent American company to circumvent demands to ban it as India has done. "I think TikTok is going to pull out of the holding company which is China-run and operate as an independent American company," he told reporters at the White House on Thursday. Also read: US attorney general blasts American firms for 'kowtowing' to Beijing The US has not made a final decision on whether to ban it, which has been suggested by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, he said. TikTok being divested by ByteDance Technology Company "is a much better solution than banning or pushing away", said Kudlow, who is the Director of the National Economic Council. Also read| Trump administration action on risks posed by TikTok likely 'in weeks': White House He said that its services will be located in the US and "it will become an hundred per cent American company". If it becomes a US company without Chinese links, India may have to reconsider the ban on the short video app wildly popular in the country. India banned TikTok along with 58 other Chinese apps on June 29 citing threats to its defence and national security. The ban came after a deadly clash between Indian and Chinese troops along the Line of Actual Control in Ladakh. Under Beijing's National Security Law, all Chinese companies have to provide intelligence requested by the government, creating risks for users and their countries. India was TikTok's biggest market outside of China, where it operates as Douyin. There were about 200 million users in India and over 300 million downloads. The United States comes next with over 30 million users for the app.

TikTok may leave Chinese parent company to avoid US ban: Trump adviser

A telecommunication regulator in South Korea has fined video-sharing app TikTok for 186 million Won or roughly $1,55,000 for mishandling children's data, amid growing concerns about users' privacy.

The Korea Communications Commission (KCC) began the investigation into this matter back in October 2019 and found that TikTok collected that data of children under the age of 14 without consent from their legal guardians, reports Gizmochina.

The fine is equivalent to 3 per cent of the company's annual sales in South Korea, an amount designated for such violations under local privacy laws.

TikTok currently uses four cloud companies to store its data -- Alibaba Cloud, Fastly, Edgecast, and Firebase. South Korean user data is stored on servers run by Alibaba Cloud, which are based in the US and Singapore.

Last month, India banned 59 Chinese apps including TikTok, citing national security concerns, similar to the US Army back in January. Earlier this month, TikTok announced that it was exiting the Hong Kong market after the enforcement of new security laws by China. 
&nbsp;

A telecommunication regulator in South Korea has fined video-sharing app TikTok for 186 million Won or roughly $1,55,000 for mishandling children's data, amid growing concerns about users' privacy.

A telecommunication regulator in South Korea has fined video-sharing app TikTok for 186 million Won or roughly $1,55,000 for mishandling children's data, amid growing concerns about users' privacy. The Korea Communications Commission (KCC) began the investigation into this matter back in October 2019 and found that TikTok collected that data of children under the age of 14 without consent from their legal guardians, reports Gizmochina. The fine is equivalent to 3 per cent of the company's annual sales in South Korea, an amount designated for such violations under local privacy laws. TikTok currently uses four cloud companies to store its data -- Alibaba Cloud, Fastly, Edgecast, and Firebase. South Korean user data is stored on servers run by Alibaba Cloud, which are based in the US and Singapore. Last month, India banned 59 Chinese apps including TikTok, citing national security concerns, similar to the US Army back in January. Earlier this month, TikTok announced that it was exiting the Hong Kong market after the enforcement of new security laws by China.

South Korean regulator fines TikTok over mishandling child data

President Donald Trump’s administration is studying the national security risks of social media applications including TikTok and WeChat, with action to address the issue expected in the coming weeks, a White House official said on Wednesday.&nbsp;

“There are a number of ... administration officials who are looking at the national security risk as it relates to TikTok, WeChat and other apps that have the potential for national security exposure, specifically as it relates to the gathering of information on American citizens by a foreign adversary,” White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows told reporters en route to Washington from Georgia.

“I don’t know that there’s any self-imposed deadline in terms of action, but I would say that we’re looking at weeks, not months,” he added.

TikTok defended its security practices in a statement, saying: “We are fully committed to protecting our users’ privacy and security.

“TikTok has an American CEO, a Chief Information Security Officer with decades of US military and law enforcement experience, and a growing US team that works diligently to develop a best-in-class security infrastructure. TikTok US user data is stored in Virginia and Singapore, with strict controls on employee access. These are the facts,” the statement said.

WeChat owner Tencent did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The comments come as TikTok, a popular short video-sharing app owned by Beijing ByteDance Technology Co, finds itself increasingly in the crosshairs of the Trump administration as US-China ties sour over the coronavirus pandemic and Beijing’s move to curb freedoms in Hong Kong.

Earlier this month, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the United States was “certainly looking at” banning Chinese social media apps, including TikTok, but offered no further details.

On Wednesday, the New York Times reported the administration was weighing action against Chinese social media services like TikTok under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, which gives the president broad powers to penalize companies in response to extraordinary threats, citing people familiar with the matter.

But the administration was already looking into the company, after lawmakers called for a probe over concerns it could be censoring politically sensitive content and failing to safely store personal data.&nbsp;

Reuters reported last November that a powerful US government committee known as CFIUS had launched a national security review of Bytedance’s $1 billion acquisition of US social media app Musical.ly.

Meadows offered little detail about the mechanisms under consideration to respond to any threats posed by TikTok, but noted that the CFIUS review was perhaps on a parallel tract.

WeChat, a chat app owned by Tencent Holdings Ltd, a Chinese gaming and social media group, has received less scrutiny in Washington.

President Donald Trump’s administration is studying the national security risks of social media applications including TikTok and WeChat, with action to address the issue expected in the coming weeks, a White House official said on Wednesday.

President Donald Trump’s administration is studying the national security risks of social media applications including TikTok and WeChat, with action to address the issue expected in the coming weeks, a White House official said on Wednesday. “There are a number of ... administration officials who are looking at the national security risk as it relates to TikTok, WeChat and other apps that have the potential for national security exposure, specifically as it relates to the gathering of information on American citizens by a foreign adversary,” White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows told reporters en route to Washington from Georgia. “I don’t know that there’s any self-imposed deadline in terms of action, but I would say that we’re looking at weeks, not months,” he added. TikTok defended its security practices in a statement, saying: “We are fully committed to protecting our users’ privacy and security. “TikTok has an American CEO, a Chief Information Security Officer with decades of US military and law enforcement experience, and a growing US team that works diligently to develop a best-in-class security infrastructure. TikTok US user data is stored in Virginia and Singapore, with strict controls on employee access. These are the facts,” the statement said. WeChat owner Tencent did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The comments come as TikTok, a popular short video-sharing app owned by Beijing ByteDance Technology Co, finds itself increasingly in the crosshairs of the Trump administration as US-China ties sour over the coronavirus pandemic and Beijing’s move to curb freedoms in Hong Kong. Earlier this month, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the United States was “certainly looking at” banning Chinese social media apps, including TikTok, but offered no further details. On Wednesday, the New York Times reported the administration was weighing action against Chinese social media services like TikTok under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, which gives the president broad powers to penalize companies in response to extraordinary threats, citing people familiar with the matter. But the administration was already looking into the company, after lawmakers called for a probe over concerns it could be censoring politically sensitive content and failing to safely store personal data. Reuters reported last November that a powerful US government committee known as CFIUS had launched a national security review of Bytedance’s $1 billion acquisition of US social media app Musical.ly. Meadows offered little detail about the mechanisms under consideration to respond to any threats posed by TikTok, but noted that the CFIUS review was perhaps on a parallel tract. WeChat, a chat app owned by Tencent Holdings Ltd, a Chinese gaming and social media group, has received less scrutiny in Washington.

Trump administration action on risks posed by TikTok likely 'in weeks': White House

Social media app TikTok said on Thursday it removed more than 49 million videos from its platform in the second half of last year for violating its guidelines.

These videos accounted for less than 1% of the total posted on the platform and fell under categories such as "violent and graphic content, hate speech and adult nudity", it said in a report (here) released on its website.

About one-third of the videos were from India, followed by the United States and Pakistan, it added.

The transparency report comes days after the company owned by China’s ByteDance was banned from India, one of its biggest markets, after a Sino-India border clash. The short-form video making app also decided to exit the Hong Kong market following China’s establishment of a sweeping new national security law for the semi-autonomous city.

TikTok launched a new platform to court small business advertisers on Wednesday. The platform, however, was fraught with challenges, especially after the Trump administration’s threat this week to impose a ban on China-based social media apps.

Social media app TikTok said on Thursday it removed more than 49 million videos from its platform in the second half of last year for violating its guidelines. These videos accounted for less than 1% of the total posted on the platform and fell under categories such as "violent and graphic content, hate speech and adult nudity", it said in a report (here) released on its website.

Social media app TikTok said on Thursday it removed more than 49 million videos from its platform in the second half of last year for violating its guidelines. These videos accounted for less than 1% of the total posted on the platform and fell under categories such as "violent and graphic content, hate speech and adult nudity", it said in a report (here) released on its website. About one-third of the videos were from India, followed by the United States and Pakistan, it added. The transparency report comes days after the company owned by China’s ByteDance was banned from India, one of its biggest markets, after a Sino-India border clash. The short-form video making app also decided to exit the Hong Kong market following China’s establishment of a sweeping new national security law for the semi-autonomous city. TikTok launched a new platform to court small business advertisers on Wednesday. The platform, however, was fraught with challenges, especially after the Trump administration’s threat this week to impose a ban on China-based social media apps.

TikTok says removed over 49 million videos in second half of 2019

The Federal Trade Commission and the US Justice Department are looking into allegations that popular app TikTok failed to live up to a 2019 agreement aimed at protecting children's privacy, Reuters report said quoting two people interviewed by the agencies.

The Federal Trade Commission and the US Justice Department are looking into allegations that popular app TikTok failed to live up to a 2019 agreement aimed at protecting children's privacy, Reuters report said quoting two people interviewed by the agencies. A staffer in a Massachusetts tech policy group and another source said they took part in separate conference calls with FTC and Justice Department officials to discuss accusations the China-based short video sharing app had failed to live up to an agreement announced in February 2019. The Center for Digital Democracy, Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood and others in May asked the FTC look into their allegations TikTok failed to delete videos and personal information about users age 13 and younger as it had agreed to do, among other violations. Reuters could not determine whether any action would be taken against TikTok by either of the two agencies. A TikTok spokesman said they take "safety seriously for all our users," adding that in the United States they "accommodate users under 13 in a limited app experience that introduces additional safety and privacy protections designed specifically for a younger audience." Officials from both the FTC, which reached the original consent agreement with TikTok, and Justice Department, which often files court documents for the FTC, met via video with representatives of the groups to discuss the matter, said David Monahan, a campaign manager with the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood. "I got the sense from our conversation that they are looking into the assertions that we raised in our complaint," Monahan said. A second person, speaking privately, confirmed that advocates had met with officials from the two agencies to discuss concerns TikTok violated the consent decree. The FTC declined to comment. The Justice Department had no immediate comment.

US probing allegations TikTok violated children's privacy: Sources

After India banned China's TikTok app, US President Donald Trump said that the US is "looking at" banning the Chinese app.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/us-probing-allegations-tiktok-violated-childrens-privacy-sources-311504">Also Read:&nbsp;US probing allegations TikTok violated children's privacy</a>

Trump while speaking to a US television network said: "It's something we're looking at," when the interviewer&nbsp;asked him about a possible ban.

"It's big business. Look, what happened with China with this virus, what they've done to this country and to the entire world is disgraceful," Trump said.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had earlier said the Trump administration was looking at banning Chinese apps including Tik Tok.

However, China's foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said that "remarks made by some politicians in the US are totally groundless and a malicious smear" on Trump's comment on TikTok and COVID-19.

Last week India had banned 59 Chinese apps including TikTok which is owned by China's ByteDance amid clashes between Indian and Chinese troops at the Line of Control(LAC) on June 15 which left 20 Indian soldiers dead.

TikTok Chief Executive Kevin Mayer had said the Chinese government has never requested user data, nor would the company turn it over if asked. "If we do ever receive such a request in the future, we would not comply," Mayer said in a statement.

TikTok was launched in India three years ago and had become one of the most popular apps adding millions of users as Indian youth took to it in large numbers fascinated by the short video clips.

The Indian government had cited "safety" and "sovereignty of Indian cyberspace" as reasons for banning the Chinese app.

The others apps banned included SHarit, Kwai, UC Browser, Baidu map, Shein, clash of Kings, DU battery saver, Helo, Likee, YouCam makeup, Mi Community, CM Browsers, Virus Cleaner, Apus Browser. 
&nbsp;

After India banned China's TikTok app, US President Donald Trump said that the US is "looking at" banning the Chinese app. Also Read: US probing allegations TikTok violated children's privacy Trump while speaking to a US television network said: "It's something we're looking at," when the interviewer asked him about a possible ban.

After India banned China's TikTok app, US President Donald Trump said that the US is "looking at" banning the Chinese app. Also Read: US probing allegations TikTok violated children's privacy Trump while speaking to a US television network said: "It's something we're looking at," when the interviewer asked him about a possible ban. "It's big business. Look, what happened with China with this virus, what they've done to this country and to the entire world is disgraceful," Trump said. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had earlier said the Trump administration was looking at banning Chinese apps including Tik Tok. However, China's foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said that "remarks made by some politicians in the US are totally groundless and a malicious smear" on Trump's comment on TikTok and COVID-19. Last week India had banned 59 Chinese apps including TikTok which is owned by China's ByteDance amid clashes between Indian and Chinese troops at the Line of Control(LAC) on June 15 which left 20 Indian soldiers dead. TikTok Chief Executive Kevin Mayer had said the Chinese government has never requested user data, nor would the company turn it over if asked. "If we do ever receive such a request in the future, we would not comply," Mayer said in a statement. TikTok was launched in India three years ago and had become one of the most popular apps adding millions of users as Indian youth took to it in large numbers fascinated by the short video clips. The Indian government had cited "safety" and "sovereignty of Indian cyberspace" as reasons for banning the Chinese app. The others apps banned included SHarit, Kwai, UC Browser, Baidu map, Shein, clash of Kings, DU battery saver, Helo, Likee, YouCam makeup, Mi Community, CM Browsers, Virus Cleaner, Apus Browser.

Now, Trump considers banning China's TikTok

In the wake of ban imposed on 59 Chinese apps, Instagram is planning to expand its new video-music remix feature Reels which offer TikTok-like functionalities to India.

However, no date has been announced for the launch of the app in India as of now.

"Reels is a fun, creative way for people to both express themselves and be entertained,” said a Facebook spokesperson. The app was first launched in Brazil and recently in France and Germany 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/tiktok-ban-chingari-app-crosses-10-million-downloads-on-play-store-310467">Also Read: India bans 59 Chinese apps including TikTok, Shareit citing national security</a>

Instagram Reels is a video-editing tool to allow users to create short,15-second video clips set to music or other audio and share those on the platform.

Last month, the government of India took an unprecedented step and decided to ban at least 59 Chinese apps. Among the apps that have banned are Tik Tok, SHarit, Kwai, UC Browser, Baidu map, Shein, clash of Kings, DU battery saver, Helo, Likee, YouCam makeup, Mi Community, CM Browsers, Virus Cleaner, Apus Browser, among others. 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/us-looking-at-banning-chinese-social-media-apps-including-tiktok-pompeo-311273">Also Read: US looking at banning Chinese social media apps, including TikTok</a>

"This move will safeguard the interests of crores of Indian mobile and internet users. This decision is a targeted move to ensure safety and sovereignty of Indian cyberspace," announced the Ministry of Electronics and IT. 
 
(With inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

In the wake of ban imposed on 59 Chinese apps, Instagram is planning to expand its new video-music remix feature Reels which offer TikTok-like functionalities to India.

In the wake of ban imposed on 59 Chinese apps, Instagram is planning to expand its new video-music remix feature Reels which offer TikTok-like functionalities to India. However, no date has been announced for the launch of the app in India as of now. "Reels is a fun, creative way for people to both express themselves and be entertained,” said a Facebook spokesperson. The app was first launched in Brazil and recently in France and Germany Also Read: India bans 59 Chinese apps including TikTok, Shareit citing national security Instagram Reels is a video-editing tool to allow users to create short,15-second video clips set to music or other audio and share those on the platform. Last month, the government of India took an unprecedented step and decided to ban at least 59 Chinese apps. Among the apps that have banned are Tik Tok, SHarit, Kwai, UC Browser, Baidu map, Shein, clash of Kings, DU battery saver, Helo, Likee, YouCam makeup, Mi Community, CM Browsers, Virus Cleaner, Apus Browser, among others. Also Read: US looking at banning Chinese social media apps, including TikTok "This move will safeguard the interests of crores of Indian mobile and internet users. This decision is a targeted move to ensure safety and sovereignty of Indian cyberspace," announced the Ministry of Electronics and IT. (With inputs from agencies)

Chinese apps banned: Instagram set to launch TikTok rival 'Reels' in India

Chinese state-backed media outlet The Global Times has said that the loss of Chinese internet company ByteDance (mother company of Tik Tok) could be as high as $6 billion after the Indian government banned 59 Chinese apps.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/tiktok-banned-all-you-need-to-know-about-its-indian-rival-chingari-app-309680">TikTok banned: All you need to know about its Indian rival Chingari app</a> 
 
On it’s official Twitter handle The Global Times posted that "The loss of Chinese internet company ByteDance – the mother company of Tik Tok — could be as high as $6 billion after the Indian government banned 59 Chinese apps including Tik Tok, following deadly border clash between Indian and Chinese troops last month."

<img alt="TikTok" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="bbbb34dd-a114-4d0d-9a0f-5636a8b71d53" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/tiktok.JPG" />

The Indian government had on Monday banned 59 Chinese apps amid the India-China standoff at Galwan Valley.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-bans-59-chinese-apps-including-tiktok-shareit-uc-browser-citing-national-security-309464">Also read: India bans 59 Chinese apps including TikTok, Shareit, UC Browser citing national security</a>

"This move will safeguard the interests of crores of Indian mobile and internet users. This decision is a targeted move to ensure safety and sovereignty of Indian cyberspace," India's ministry of electronics and IT had said.

The apps which were banned included UC Browser, Tik Tok, SHAREit, Baidu map, Shein, clash of Kings, DU battery saver, Helo, Likee, YouCam makeup, Mi Community, CM Browsers, Virus Cleaner, Apus Browser among others.

Meanwhile, Tik Tok which has a huge following in India said: "TikTok continues to comply with all data privacy and security requirements under Indian law and has not shared any information of our users in India with any foreign government, including the Chinese government."

(With inputs from agencies)

Chinese state-backed media outlet The Global Times has said that the loss of Chinese internet company ByteDance (mother company of Tik Tok) could be as high as $6 billion after the Indian government banned 59 Chinese apps.

Chinese state-backed media outlet The Global Times has said that the loss of Chinese internet company ByteDance (mother company of Tik Tok) could be as high as $6 billion after the Indian government banned 59 Chinese apps. TikTok banned: All you need to know about its Indian rival Chingari app On it’s official Twitter handle The Global Times posted that "The loss of Chinese internet company ByteDance – the mother company of Tik Tok — could be as high as $6 billion after the Indian government banned 59 Chinese apps including Tik Tok, following deadly border clash between Indian and Chinese troops last month." The Indian government had on Monday banned 59 Chinese apps amid the India-China standoff at Galwan Valley. Also read: India bans 59 Chinese apps including TikTok, Shareit, UC Browser citing national security "This move will safeguard the interests of crores of Indian mobile and internet users. This decision is a targeted move to ensure safety and sovereignty of Indian cyberspace," India's ministry of electronics and IT had said. The apps which were banned included UC Browser, Tik Tok, SHAREit, Baidu map, Shein, clash of Kings, DU battery saver, Helo, Likee, YouCam makeup, Mi Community, CM Browsers, Virus Cleaner, Apus Browser among others. Meanwhile, Tik Tok which has a huge following in India said: "TikTok continues to comply with all data privacy and security requirements under Indian law and has not shared any information of our users in India with any foreign government, including the Chinese government." (With inputs from agencies)

With India's TikTok ban, Chinese parent company ByteDance could lose up to $6 billion

The Indian government had on Monday banned 59 Chinese apps amid the India-China standoff at Galwan Valley. 
 
The apps which were banned included UC Browser, Tik Tok, SHAREit, Baidu map, Shein, clash of Kings, DU battery saver, Helo, Likee, YouCam makeup, Mi Community, CM Browsers, Virus Cleaner, Apus Browser among others.

India needs a different strategy to tackle China, and in a single move, India has cut Beijing’s access to one of the biggest internet markets in the world.&nbsp;&nbsp;

National security is another reason because China's national intelligence law makes it legally binding on all Chinese companies to share data and intelligence.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-indias-firewall-against-chinas-digital-infiltration-309766/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

China is banking on technology to dominate the world. The world of the internet, smartphones and apps has no boundaries and it's easier to infiltrate. The alleged Russian meddling in the last US presidential election is the case in point. 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-bans-59-chinese-apps-including-tiktok-shareit-uc-browser-citing-national-security-309464">Also Read:&nbsp;India bans 59 Chinese apps citing national security</a> 
 
The Indian government has said that the ban is a result of many complaints. Chinese apps have been accused of stealing data and they are now being seen as a threat to the security and defence of India.&nbsp;

After India's decision, app stores have started removing these applications from their platforms. TikTok, the most high profile victim of this ban, has been hidden from the search results of app stores. The app had more than 200 million users in India.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, the Chinese embassy in New Delhi has also issued a statement. China's foreign ministry said it was "strongly concerned" over India's ban on Chinese apps. 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/strongly-concerned-over-indias-ban-on-chinese-apps-china-309601">Also Read: Strongly concerned over India's ban on Chinese apps: China</a>

&nbsp;"The Indian government has the responsibility to follow the legal rights of international investors including Chinese, the pattern is not in the interest of Indians too," China's foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said.

Although, China, which is breaking international rules on a daily basis, is in no position to lecture anyone about rules. India’s decision sets a precedent - now is the time to act and countries must learn to resist China.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

The Indian government had on Monday banned 59 Chinese apps amid the India-China standoff at Galwan Valley. The apps which were banned included UC Browser, Tik Tok, SHAREit, Baidu map, Shein, clash of Kings, DU battery saver, Helo, Likee, YouCam makeup, Mi Community, CM Browsers, Virus Cleaner, Apus Browser among others.

The Indian government had on Monday banned 59 Chinese apps amid the India-China standoff at Galwan Valley. The apps which were banned included UC Browser, Tik Tok, SHAREit, Baidu map, Shein, clash of Kings, DU battery saver, Helo, Likee, YouCam makeup, Mi Community, CM Browsers, Virus Cleaner, Apus Browser among others. India needs a different strategy to tackle China, and in a single move, India has cut Beijing’s access to one of the biggest internet markets in the world. National security is another reason because China's national intelligence law makes it legally binding on all Chinese companies to share data and intelligence. China is banking on technology to dominate the world. The world of the internet, smartphones and apps has no boundaries and it's easier to infiltrate. The alleged Russian meddling in the last US presidential election is the case in point. Also Read: India bans 59 Chinese apps citing national security The Indian government has said that the ban is a result of many complaints. Chinese apps have been accused of stealing data and they are now being seen as a threat to the security and defence of India. After India's decision, app stores have started removing these applications from their platforms. TikTok, the most high profile victim of this ban, has been hidden from the search results of app stores. The app had more than 200 million users in India. Meanwhile, the Chinese embassy in New Delhi has also issued a statement. China's foreign ministry said it was "strongly concerned" over India's ban on Chinese apps. Also Read: Strongly concerned over India's ban on Chinese apps: China "The Indian government has the responsibility to follow the legal rights of international investors including Chinese, the pattern is not in the interest of Indians too," China's foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said. Although, China, which is breaking international rules on a daily basis, is in no position to lecture anyone about rules. India’s decision sets a precedent - now is the time to act and countries must learn to resist China.

India bans Chinese apps: What does the decision mean for Beijing?

A day after the government banned several Chinese apps, popular short-form video app Mitron reported that its daily traffic jumped up by more than 11 times.

Just 5 days after crossing the 10 million (1 crore) downloads milestone, Mitron has now announced that the app has been downloaded by 17 million (1.7 crore) users in India. Mitron app has been one of the most downloaded apps in India during the last two months.

It is incredibly exciting to see the rapid adoption of Mitron by Indian users. 11-fold jump in traffic, immediately after the ban of Chinese apps, was beyond our expectations, said Shivank Agarwal, Founder and CEO, Mitron.

Anish Khandelwal, Founder &amp; CTO said, " We have built a solid backend infrastructure and our platform is now completely scalable and autonomous and that is helping us to cater to the sharp rise in traffic on Mitron App."

Mitron has been rapidly enhancing the product with several improvements for the users including an updated video upload process that is much easier, enhanced audio library with a wide choice of Indian content and a feature that enables users to flag any inappropriate content easily.

Users uploaded millions of videos in 10 different languages and the number of videos viewed on the platform increased sharply to cross 30 million video views per hour.

Shivank added, "We are a young company and we are hiring some of the best product &amp; engineering talent to scale up Mitron rapidly. We are confident that we can build Mitron into one of the best apps in the short-form video space. Our focus is on building features and content that uniquely resonates with Indian users, while being sensitive to community standards and local laws in India and we believe that will help us build Mitron into a very large business."

Mitron app is a short-form video app that allows users to create, upload and view entertaining short videos.

A day after the government banned several Chinese apps, popular short-form video app Mitron reported that its daily traffic jumped up by more than 11 times. Just 5 days after crossing the 10 million (1 crore) downloads milestone, Mitron has now announced that the app has been downloaded by 17 million (1.

A day after the government banned several Chinese apps, popular short-form video app Mitron reported that its daily traffic jumped up by more than 11 times. Just 5 days after crossing the 10 million (1 crore) downloads milestone, Mitron has now announced that the app has been downloaded by 17 million (1.7 crore) users in India. Mitron app has been one of the most downloaded apps in India during the last two months. It is incredibly exciting to see the rapid adoption of Mitron by Indian users. 11-fold jump in traffic, immediately after the ban of Chinese apps, was beyond our expectations, said Shivank Agarwal, Founder and CEO, Mitron. Anish Khandelwal, Founder & CTO said, " We have built a solid backend infrastructure and our platform is now completely scalable and autonomous and that is helping us to cater to the sharp rise in traffic on Mitron App." Mitron has been rapidly enhancing the product with several improvements for the users including an updated video upload process that is much easier, enhanced audio library with a wide choice of Indian content and a feature that enables users to flag any inappropriate content easily. Users uploaded millions of videos in 10 different languages and the number of videos viewed on the platform increased sharply to cross 30 million video views per hour. Shivank added, "We are a young company and we are hiring some of the best product & engineering talent to scale up Mitron rapidly. We are confident that we can build Mitron into one of the best apps in the short-form video space. Our focus is on building features and content that uniquely resonates with Indian users, while being sensitive to community standards and local laws in India and we believe that will help us build Mitron into a very large business." Mitron app is a short-form video app that allows users to create, upload and view entertaining short videos.

Video app Mitron traffic jumps up 11-fold as government bans TikTok

After the Indian government decided to ban 59 Chinese apps, TikTok CEO Kevin Mayer addressed the Indian employees, saying that the company is working with stakeholders to address their concerns.&nbsp;

"TikTok continues to comply with all data privacy and security requirements under Indian law and places the highest importance on user privacy and integrity," said Kevin Mayer.

"Our employees are our biggest strength, and their well-being is our topmost priority. We have also assured more than 2,000 strong workforce that we will do everything in our power to restore the positive experiences and opportunities that they can be proud of," the TikTok CEO said. 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-bans-chinese-apps-what-does-the-decision-mean-for-beijing-309734">Also Read:&nbsp;India bans Chinese apps: What does the decision mean for Beijing?</a>

He further said that the company look forward to play an active role in the mainframe of Digital India.

Kevin Mayer took over as TikTok CEO in June, 2019 and the ban on the app by the Indian government is the first big challenge he faces.

Earlier on&nbsp;Tuesday, TikTok India responding&nbsp;to the ban said, "The government of India has issued an interim order for the blocking of 59 apps, including TikTok and we are in the process of complying with it. We have been invited to meet with concerned government stakeholders for an opportunity to respond and submit clarifications." 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/strongly-concerned-over-indias-ban-on-chinese-apps-china-309601">Also Read: Strongly concerned over India's ban on Chinese apps: China</a>

The Indian government had on Monday banned 59 Chinese apps amid the India-China standoff at Galwan Valley.

Other than TikTok, the apps which were banned included UC Browser, SHAREit, Baidu map, Shein, clash of Kings, DU battery saver, Helo, Likee, YouCam makeup, Mi Community, CM Browsers, Virus Cleaner, Apus Browser and many more. 
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After the Indian government decided to ban 59 Chinese apps, TikTok CEO Kevin Mayer addressed the Indian employees, saying that the company is working with stakeholders to address their concerns.

After the Indian government decided to ban 59 Chinese apps, TikTok CEO Kevin Mayer addressed the Indian employees, saying that the company is working with stakeholders to address their concerns. "TikTok continues to comply with all data privacy and security requirements under Indian law and places the highest importance on user privacy and integrity," said Kevin Mayer. "Our employees are our biggest strength, and their well-being is our topmost priority. We have also assured more than 2,000 strong workforce that we will do everything in our power to restore the positive experiences and opportunities that they can be proud of," the TikTok CEO said. Also Read: India bans Chinese apps: What does the decision mean for Beijing? He further said that the company look forward to play an active role in the mainframe of Digital India. Kevin Mayer took over as TikTok CEO in June, 2019 and the ban on the app by the Indian government is the first big challenge he faces. Earlier on Tuesday, TikTok India responding to the ban said, "The government of India has issued an interim order for the blocking of 59 apps, including TikTok and we are in the process of complying with it. We have been invited to meet with concerned government stakeholders for an opportunity to respond and submit clarifications." Also Read: Strongly concerned over India's ban on Chinese apps: China The Indian government had on Monday banned 59 Chinese apps amid the India-China standoff at Galwan Valley. Other than TikTok, the apps which were banned included UC Browser, SHAREit, Baidu map, Shein, clash of Kings, DU battery saver, Helo, Likee, YouCam makeup, Mi Community, CM Browsers, Virus Cleaner, Apus Browser and many more.

TikTok CEO addresses Indian employees, says your well-being is our topmost priority

In the midst of ongoing tension at Sino-Indian border after a standoff with Chinese forces along the Line of Actual Control in Ladakh, the government of India on Monday decided to ban at least 59 Chinese apps.

Since the government banned 59 Chinese apps over national security concerns, &nbsp;Indians have rushed to download social app Chingari, a desi alternative to Chinese TikTok. 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/tiktoks-indian-alternative-chingari-app-crosses-over-3-million-downloads-309634">Also Read:&nbsp;TikTok's Indian alternative Chingari app crosses over 3 million downloads</a>

Here is all you need to know about Chingari app:&nbsp;

1. Chingari app was founded by Bengaluru-based programmers Biswatma Nayak and Siddharth Gautam in 2019

2. The app is available in multiple languages including English, Hindi, Bangla, Gujarati, Marathi, Kannada, Punjabi, Malayalam, Tamil and Telugu.

3. The app also rewards the users on the basis of how viral the video becomes.

4. The Chingari app is available for free download on both Google Play Store and Apple App Store.

5. Chingari allows users&nbsp;to download and upload videos, chat with friends, interact with new people, share content, and browse through the feed. 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

In the midst of ongoing tension at Sino-Indian border after a standoff with Chinese forces along the Line of Actual Control in Ladakh, the government of India on Monday decided to ban at least 59 Chinese apps.

In the midst of ongoing tension at Sino-Indian border after a standoff with Chinese forces along the Line of Actual Control in Ladakh, the government of India on Monday decided to ban at least 59 Chinese apps. Since the government banned 59 Chinese apps over national security concerns, Indians have rushed to download social app Chingari, a desi alternative to Chinese TikTok. Also Read: TikTok's Indian alternative Chingari app crosses over 3 million downloads Here is all you need to know about Chingari app: 1. Chingari app was founded by Bengaluru-based programmers Biswatma Nayak and Siddharth Gautam in 2019 2. The app is available in multiple languages including English, Hindi, Bangla, Gujarati, Marathi, Kannada, Punjabi, Malayalam, Tamil and Telugu. 3. The app also rewards the users on the basis of how viral the video becomes. 4. The Chingari app is available for free download on both Google Play Store and Apple App Store. 5. Chingari allows users to download and upload videos, chat with friends, interact with new people, share content, and browse through the feed. (With inputs from agencies)

TikTok banned: All you need to know about its Indian rival Chingari app

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