Somalia has banned a number of social media applications in light of rapidly spreading indecent content and propaganda, said the nation's communication minister in a statement released late on Sunday.

<h2>Which apps have been banned?</h2>

The East African nation has placed a ban on the popular short video format application TikTok, messaging app Telegram and an online betting website 1XBet.

Reuters reports that the government order has given internet service providers time till August 24&nbsp;to comply with the ban.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/fifty-four-ugandan-soldiers-killed-by-al-shabaab-militants-in-somalia-600255">Fifty-four Ugandan soldiers killed by al-Shabaab militants in attack on military base in Somalia</a>

Somalian communications minister Jama Hassan Khalif's statement, as per Reuters, said: "The minister of communications orders internet companies to stop the aforementioned applications, which terrorists and immoral groups used to spread constant horrific images and misinformation to the public."

<h2>What prompted this ban?</h2>

As per the news agency, the ban comes days after the nation's President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud revealed that a Somalian military offensive is aiming to eliminate al Shabaab, an insurgent group, in the next five months.

Members of al Shabaab — a group with linkages to al-Qaeda — often post about their illegal activities on TikTok and Telegram.

While ByteDance's TikTok and betting website 1XBet are yet to issue a comment over the ban, Telegram in its statement said: "Telegram consistently removes terrorist propaganda in Somalia and worldwide."

It also said that it "actively moderated" harmful content on its platform.

<h2>App users criticise the ban</h2>

In Somalia and elsewhere, millions of users use TikTok to make money by posting videos, entertaining content or promoting their products. Talking to Reuters, some Somalian TikTok influencers&nbsp;and content creators said they were against the ban.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/tiktok-banned-by-new-york-city-on-government-owned-devices-over-security-concerns-626232">TikTok banned by New York City on government-owned devices over security concerns</a>

One user, Abdulkadir Ali Mohamed, who calls himself Somalia's "TikTok President," said: "The ban on TikTok will make the lights of many homes go off."

"Where will we get our daily bread?" he asked.

Another user, Halimo Hassan, who sells precious metal gold on TikTok, expressed worry over losing her customers and said: "I urge the government to allow TikTok for the public, but control how it is used in the cultural context of Somalia."

(With inputs from agencies)

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Somalia has banned a number of social media applications in light of rapidly spreading indecent content and propaganda, said the nation's communication minister in a statement released late on Sunday.

Somalia has banned a number of social media applications in light of rapidly spreading indecent content and propaganda, said the nation's communication minister in a statement released late on Sunday. Which apps have been banned? The East African nation has placed a ban on the popular short video format application TikTok, messaging app Telegram and an online betting website 1XBet. Reuters reports that the government order has given internet service providers time till August 24 to comply with the ban. Also read | Fifty-four Ugandan soldiers killed by al-Shabaab militants in attack on military base in Somalia Somalian communications minister Jama Hassan Khalif's statement, as per Reuters, said: "The minister of communications orders internet companies to stop the aforementioned applications, which terrorists and immoral groups used to spread constant horrific images and misinformation to the public." What prompted this ban? As per the news agency, the ban comes days after the nation's President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud revealed that a Somalian military offensive is aiming to eliminate al Shabaab, an insurgent group, in the next five months. Members of al Shabaab — a group with linkages to al-Qaeda — often post about their illegal activities on TikTok and Telegram. While ByteDance's TikTok and betting website 1XBet are yet to issue a comment over the ban, Telegram in its statement said: "Telegram consistently removes terrorist propaganda in Somalia and worldwide." It also said that it "actively moderated" harmful content on its platform. App users criticise the ban In Somalia and elsewhere, millions of users use TikTok to make money by posting videos, entertaining content or promoting their products. Talking to Reuters, some Somalian TikTok influencers and content creators said they were against the ban. Also read | TikTok banned by New York City on government-owned devices over security concerns One user, Abdulkadir Ali Mohamed, who calls himself Somalia's "TikTok President," said: "The ban on TikTok will make the lights of many homes go off." "Where will we get our daily bread?" he asked. Another user, Halimo Hassan, who sells precious metal gold on TikTok, expressed worry over losing her customers and said: "I urge the government to allow TikTok for the public, but control how it is used in the cultural context of Somalia." (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Somalia bans TikTok, Telegram to curb spread of 'constant horrific images and misinformation'

Australia will declare a ban on TikTok on government phones this week, joining other nations who have already done so because to security concerns. Following the conclusion of an assessment by the Home Affairs department, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese consented to a government-wide ban on the usage of TikTok, according to The Australian newspaper.

Australia to ban TikTok on government devices: Reports

After the UK banned TikTok on government devices. New zealand has decided to implement the TikTok ban on devices issued to its members of parliament. The ban, which is over cyber security concerns, is expected to be implemented by the end of march.

Tiktok to be banned on govt phones & devices in UK & New Zealand

After the UK banned TikTok on government devices. New Zealand has decided to implement the TikTok ban on devices issued to its Members of Parliament. The ban, which is over cyber security concerns, is expected to be implemented by the end of march.

New Zealand to ban TikTok from MP's devices

New Zealand to ban TikTok on devices linked to parliament network

The Biden administration has threatened to ban TikTok from the U.S. unless the app’s Chinese owners agree to spin off their share of the social media platform.

Biden threatens to ban Tiktok unless Chinese owners sell their stake

The government in Belgium also banned TikTok from government phones over concerns of misinformation, privacy and cybersecurity, said the country's prime minister on Friday.

The step taken is similar to the recent ban imposed on the video sharing app by the government authorities in the United States and Europe.

According to a post shared on Alexander de Croo’s website, TikTok will be prohibited temporarily for at least six months from the devices which the federal government of Belgium owns or is paying for.

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/tiktok-adds-paywall-feature-with-longer-videos-for-creators-570548">TikTok adds paywall feature with longer videos for creators</a>

No immediate response was given by TikTok. The company, which is owned by China’s ByteDance, has for a long time maintained that no data of the application is shared with the Chinese government and that the data is not held in China.

This week, new measures were unveiled by TikTok to ease concerns being raised about user data protection in Europe.

But the three main institutions of the European Union and the defence ministry of Denmark have already given orders to their employees to delete the application from mobile devices which are being used for official business.

The governments have imposed similar bans in Canada and the US. De Croo said that the ban imposed by Belgium was based on the warning issued by its cybersecurity centre and the state security service, which stated that the user data can be harvested by the application and algorithms can be tweaked to manipulate its content and news feed.

The officials further warned that TikTok can be forced to spy for Beijing, he stated.

WATCH | White House backs Senate bill to boost U.S. ability to ban TikTok

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“We are in a new geopolitical context where influence and surveillance between states have shifted to the digital world,” said de Croo, in an online statement.

“We must not be naive: TikTok is a Chinese company which today is obliged to cooperate with the intelligence services. This is the reality. Prohibiting its use on federal service devices is common sense,” he added.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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The government in Belgium also banned TikTok from government phones over concerns of misinformation, privacy and cybersecurity, said the country's prime minister on Friday.

The government in Belgium also banned TikTok from government phones over concerns of misinformation, privacy and cybersecurity, said the country's prime minister on Friday. The step taken is similar to the recent ban imposed on the video sharing app by the government authorities in the United States and Europe. According to a post shared on Alexander de Croo’s website, TikTok will be prohibited temporarily for at least six months from the devices which the federal government of Belgium owns or is paying for. ALSO READ | TikTok adds paywall feature with longer videos for creators No immediate response was given by TikTok. The company, which is owned by China’s ByteDance, has for a long time maintained that no data of the application is shared with the Chinese government and that the data is not held in China. This week, new measures were unveiled by TikTok to ease concerns being raised about user data protection in Europe. But the three main institutions of the European Union and the defence ministry of Denmark have already given orders to their employees to delete the application from mobile devices which are being used for official business. The governments have imposed similar bans in Canada and the US. De Croo said that the ban imposed by Belgium was based on the warning issued by its cybersecurity centre and the state security service, which stated that the user data can be harvested by the application and algorithms can be tweaked to manipulate its content and news feed. The officials further warned that TikTok can be forced to spy for Beijing, he stated. WATCH | White House backs Senate bill to boost U.S. ability to ban TikTok “We are in a new geopolitical context where influence and surveillance between states have shifted to the digital world,” said de Croo, in an online statement. “We must not be naive: TikTok is a Chinese company which today is obliged to cooperate with the intelligence services. This is the reality. Prohibiting its use on federal service devices is common sense,” he added. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Belgium follows footsteps of US and EU, bans TikTok from government phones

Another month, another ban for Afghans.&nbsp;Taliban said it will prohibit the use of video sharing app TikTok and popular video game PubG in the country within the next three months.

Ever since the terrorist organisation seized power in the country, multiple media platforms and websites have been blocked for publishing information that the group perceives to be immoral. The rights and functions of media outlets in the South Asian country have been curtailed since the Taliban takeover.&nbsp;

In a conference with officials from the security sector and sharia law administrators, the Taliban announced they would outlaw both the apps in Afghanistan within&nbsp;the time period, Khaama Press reported.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/where-is-masood-azhar-pakistan-says-ungoverned-spaces-within-afghanistan-safe-havens-for-terrorists-516731">Also read |&nbsp;Where is Masood Azhar? Pakistan says 'ungoverned spaces' in Afghanistan safe havens for terrorists</a>

Telecommunication and internet service providers in the country have been informed about the ban and have been requested to abide by the rule within the allotted time.

Najibullah Haqqani, the minister of communications, said, "We have blocked 23.4 million websites. They change their pages every time. So, when you block one website, another one will be active," TOLO News reported.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/taliban-deny-pakistani-claim-says-terrorist-masood-azhar-may-be-in-pakistan-516267">Also read |&nbsp;Taliban deny Pakistani claim, say terrorist Masood Azhar may be in Pakistan</a>

Speaking at the time, Ahmad Masoud Latif Rai, the government's deputy minister of communications, slammed Facebook for refusing to cooperate with the Taliban on online content moderation.

There have been major changes in the media culture of the country, including the closure of more than half a million media outlets; a ban on a number of channels and websites; increased work restrictions; violence, and threats to journalists.

Since the group came to power, over 45 percent of journalists have left their jobs, and the ever-increasing restrictions on the media in Afghanistan have also drawn widespread criticism on a global scale.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Another month, another ban for Afghans. Taliban said it will prohibit the use of video sharing app TikTok and popular video game PubG in the country within the next three months.

Another month, another ban for Afghans. Taliban said it will prohibit the use of video sharing app TikTok and popular video game PubG in the country within the next three months. Ever since the terrorist organisation seized power in the country, multiple media platforms and websites have been blocked for publishing information that the group perceives to be immoral. The rights and functions of media outlets in the South Asian country have been curtailed since the Taliban takeover. In a conference with officials from the security sector and sharia law administrators, the Taliban announced they would outlaw both the apps in Afghanistan within the time period, Khaama Press reported. Also read | Where is Masood Azhar? Pakistan says 'ungoverned spaces' in Afghanistan safe havens for terrorists Telecommunication and internet service providers in the country have been informed about the ban and have been requested to abide by the rule within the allotted time. Najibullah Haqqani, the minister of communications, said, "We have blocked 23.4 million websites. They change their pages every time. So, when you block one website, another one will be active," TOLO News reported. Also read | Taliban deny Pakistani claim, say terrorist Masood Azhar may be in Pakistan Speaking at the time, Ahmad Masoud Latif Rai, the government's deputy minister of communications, slammed Facebook for refusing to cooperate with the Taliban on online content moderation. There have been major changes in the media culture of the country, including the closure of more than half a million media outlets; a ban on a number of channels and websites; increased work restrictions; violence, and threats to journalists. Since the group came to power, over 45 percent of journalists have left their jobs, and the ever-increasing restrictions on the media in Afghanistan have also drawn widespread criticism on a global scale. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Afghanistan: Taliban to ban TikTok and PUBG within 90 days

Ireland's Data Protection Commission which is European Union's lead data privacy regulator has opened investigations into&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/shameful-act-pakistan-govt-condemns-sexual-assault-on-tiktok-star-by-400-men-406908">TikTok's</a> alleged processing of children’s personal data and the reported transfer&nbsp;of personal data to China.

TikTok which is owned by China's ByteDance had earlier announced policy to tighten privacy control related to&nbsp;teenagers after it allegedly failed to protect children from inappropriate content.

According to the data protection commission, the probes involve "processing of personal data in the context of platform settings for users under age 18 and age verification measures for persons under 13" under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

Watch:

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The data protection regulator&nbsp;is also probing whether <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/they-tore-my-clothes-woman-tiktok-star-assaulted-by-hundreds-in-lahore-on-pakistans-independence-day-406486">TikTok </a>complied with EU data law in its alleged transfer of personal data to countries outside the block namely to China.

TikTok however claimed that "privacy and safety" of "our youngest members, is our highest priority".

The data protection regulator based in Ireland can impose fines of up to 4 per cent of global revenue even as TikTok claimed it had implemented policies to safeguard user data. The regulator had earlier imposed $265 million fine on Facebook's WhatsApp over a data breach issue.

TikTok reportedly has over 800 million users worldwide with large advertising revenue. In July, the Dutch Data Protection Authority(DPA) had imposed a €725,000 fine on TikTok for allegedly violating the privacy of young children.

Reports said TikTok carried out a number of changes to make the app safe for children after the Dutch regulator's move.

The probe conducted by Dutch authorities had concluded that TikTok had breached EU's General Data Protection Regulation&nbsp;transparency principle.

The Dutch DPA had found that TikTok had put its notice in English which could not be read easily by users as GDPR asserted that “children merit specific protection.”

(With inputs from Agencies)

Ireland's Data Protection Commission which is European Union's lead data privacy regulator has opened investigations into TikTok's alleged processing of children’s personal data and the reported transfer of personal data to China.

Ireland's Data Protection Commission which is European Union's lead data privacy regulator has opened investigations into TikTok's alleged processing of children’s personal data and the reported transfer of personal data to China. TikTok which is owned by China's ByteDance had earlier announced policy to tighten privacy control related to teenagers after it allegedly failed to protect children from inappropriate content. According to the data protection commission, the probes involve "processing of personal data in the context of platform settings for users under age 18 and age verification measures for persons under 13" under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Watch: The data protection regulator is also probing whether TikTok complied with EU data law in its alleged transfer of personal data to countries outside the block namely to China. TikTok however claimed that "privacy and safety" of "our youngest members, is our highest priority". The data protection regulator based in Ireland can impose fines of up to 4 per cent of global revenue even as TikTok claimed it had implemented policies to safeguard user data. The regulator had earlier imposed $265 million fine on Facebook's WhatsApp over a data breach issue. TikTok reportedly has over 800 million users worldwide with large advertising revenue. In July, the Dutch Data Protection Authority(DPA) had imposed a €725,000 fine on TikTok for allegedly violating the privacy of young children. Reports said TikTok carried out a number of changes to make the app safe for children after the Dutch regulator's move. The probe conducted by Dutch authorities had concluded that TikTok had breached EU's General Data Protection Regulation transparency principle. The Dutch DPA had found that TikTok had put its notice in English which could not be read easily by users as GDPR asserted that “children merit specific protection.” (With inputs from Agencies)

EU regulator investigates TikTok over child policy, data transfer to China

Chinese video-based application TikTok continues to face global scrutiny after the United States and India cracked down on the app for its alleged links with the Chinese government, and for concerns over user data.

Now, the European Union has also issued a warning to TikTok users. On Tuesday, Europe’s consumer campaign group The European Consumer Organisation (BEUC) said that the app is breaching the rights of users “on a massive scale”.

In a statement, the organisation claimed that a probe ought to be launched in terms of the app’s “unfair” copyright policy and virtual coins. In addition, the BEUC took into account that the application has no protection mechanisms in place for children and teenagers who may be exposed to harmful content or harmful advertising.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/india-news/bytedance-explores-sale-of-indian-tiktok-assets-to-rival-firm-glance-363395" hreflang="en">ByteDance explores sale of Indian TikTok assets to rival firm Glance</a>

“In just a few years, TikTok has become one of the most popular social media apps with millions of users across Europe. But TikTok is letting its users down by breaching their rights," Monique Goyens, the BEUC’s director general, was cited as saying by Bloomberg. In addition, Goyens said that a complaint in this regard has been filed with the European Commission and national consumer-protection authorities.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/after-tiktok-biden-team-seeks-pause-in-litigation-over-wechat-ban-in-us-363085" hreflang="en">After TikTok, Biden team seeks pause in litigation over WeChat ban in US</a> 
 
EU’s data authorities are also investigating TikTok for how the app handles the personal information of children. In 2020, former US President Donald Trump had attempted to ban the application, prompting authorities to look into the safety imbued in the app.

The BEUC claims that the copyright terms of TikTok are unfair for the company has no provision to pay users for the content they upload on the app, and instead the company reserves the right to use the videos as it pleases. In addition, the BEUC raised concerns over TikTok selling coins for virtual presents.

Chinese video-based application TikTok continues to face global scrutiny after the United States and India cracked down on the app for its alleged links with the Chinese government, and for concerns over user data.

Chinese video-based application TikTok continues to face global scrutiny after the United States and India cracked down on the app for its alleged links with the Chinese government, and for concerns over user data. Now, the European Union has also issued a warning to TikTok users. On Tuesday, Europe’s consumer campaign group The European Consumer Organisation (BEUC) said that the app is breaching the rights of users “on a massive scale”. In a statement, the organisation claimed that a probe ought to be launched in terms of the app’s “unfair” copyright policy and virtual coins. In addition, the BEUC took into account that the application has no protection mechanisms in place for children and teenagers who may be exposed to harmful content or harmful advertising. Also read: ByteDance explores sale of Indian TikTok assets to rival firm Glance “In just a few years, TikTok has become one of the most popular social media apps with millions of users across Europe. But TikTok is letting its users down by breaching their rights," Monique Goyens, the BEUC’s director general, was cited as saying by Bloomberg. In addition, Goyens said that a complaint in this regard has been filed with the European Commission and national consumer-protection authorities. Also read: After TikTok, Biden team seeks pause in litigation over WeChat ban in US EU’s data authorities are also investigating TikTok for how the app handles the personal information of children. In 2020, former US President Donald Trump had attempted to ban the application, prompting authorities to look into the safety imbued in the app. The BEUC claims that the copyright terms of TikTok are unfair for the company has no provision to pay users for the content they upload on the app, and instead the company reserves the right to use the videos as it pleases. In addition, the BEUC raised concerns over TikTok selling coins for virtual presents.

After US and India, EU consumers' group raises concern over TikTok's safety

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

China on Tuesday accused the United States of "outright bullying" after President Trump said the US government ought to get a “substantial portion” of sales coming in from operating the app in the country.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-says-us-should-get-a-substantial-portion-of-tiktok-sales-317980">Also Read:&nbsp;Trump says US should get a 'substantial portion' of TikTok sales</a>

"It goes against the principles of market economy and the WTO principles of openness, transparency and non-discrimination," China's foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said.

Watch:

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The US president has given the Chinese-owned video app six weeks to sell its US operations to an American company while asserting that "it's got to be an American company... it's got to be owned here" even as TikTok's parent company ByteDance said it was evaluating the possibility of establishing TikTok's headquarters outside of the US.

US tech giant Microsoft is an advanced discussion to buy the popular video app from ByteDance subject to security review.

"I set a date of around September 15, at which point it's going to be out of business in the United States," the US president had said as he looked to pressure the Chinese app company.

The app is under scrutiny by the US over national security issues with officials claiming that it collects personal data and would share it with Chinese officials if they demand it.

"The US is using an abused concept of national security and, without providing any evidence, is making presumptions of guilt and issuing threats to relevant companies," China's foreign ministry had said on Monday.

 
&nbsp;

China on Tuesday accused the United States of "outright bullying" after President Trump said the US government ought to get a “substantial portion” of sales coming in from operating the app in the country.

China on Tuesday accused the United States of "outright bullying" after President Trump said the US government ought to get a “substantial portion” of sales coming in from operating the app in the country. Also Read: Trump says US should get a 'substantial portion' of TikTok sales "It goes against the principles of market economy and the WTO principles of openness, transparency and non-discrimination," China's foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said. Watch: The US president has given the Chinese-owned video app six weeks to sell its US operations to an American company while asserting that "it's got to be an American company... it's got to be owned here" even as TikTok's parent company ByteDance said it was evaluating the possibility of establishing TikTok's headquarters outside of the US. US tech giant Microsoft is an advanced discussion to buy the popular video app from ByteDance subject to security review. "I set a date of around September 15, at which point it's going to be out of business in the United States," the US president had said as he looked to pressure the Chinese app company. The app is under scrutiny by the US over national security issues with officials claiming that it collects personal data and would share it with Chinese officials if they demand it. "The US is using an abused concept of national security and, without providing any evidence, is making presumptions of guilt and issuing threats to relevant companies," China's foreign ministry had said on Monday.

'It goes against WTO principles': China accuses US of 'outright bullying' over TikTok

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

Chinese conglomerates had once jumped into the global race with technology as the ammo of choice. They fought competitors, raced for users but China's mission failed.

It is game over for China, at least in India. New Delhi has banned 59 Chinese apps including TikTok. Now, PUBG may be next. It is China's most valuable internet conglomerate.&nbsp;

Tencent backs PUBG&nbsp;Mobile and has 10 per cent stakes in its parent company Bluehole. In 2019, PUBG&nbsp;contributed $1.3 billion into Tencent coffers with 24 per cent of PUBG's total downloads from India which is its&nbsp;largest market.

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However, India may soon be shutting its door to the Chinese game. Reports claim that India is considering banning PUBG. It is being examined for data breach and violation of national security.&nbsp;

PUBG is not alone. There are around 275 Chinese apps on the table among them are Zili by Xiaomi, Ali Express by Alibaba, Resso and Ulike by ByteDance.

There are also apps from Chinese companies like Meitu, Perfect corp, Sina corp, Netease games and Lbe tech, if they fail to pass the national security and user privacy tests, they will be out of India.

TikTok's ban was hurtful enough for China as the app lost 200 million users and 30 per cent of its global downloads, they now stand to lose the world's second-largest internet market with 450 million smartphone users.

Chinese conglomerates had once jumped into the global race with technology as the ammo of choice. They fought competitors, raced for users but China's mission failed.

Chinese conglomerates had once jumped into the global race with technology as the ammo of choice. They fought competitors, raced for users but China's mission failed. It is game over for China, at least in India. New Delhi has banned 59 Chinese apps including TikTok. Now, PUBG may be next. It is China's most valuable internet conglomerate. Tencent backs PUBG Mobile and has 10 per cent stakes in its parent company Bluehole. In 2019, PUBG contributed $1.3 billion into Tencent coffers with 24 per cent of PUBG's total downloads from India which is its largest market. × However, India may soon be shutting its door to the Chinese game. Reports claim that India is considering banning PUBG. It is being examined for data breach and violation of national security. PUBG is not alone. There are around 275 Chinese apps on the table among them are Zili by Xiaomi, Ali Express by Alibaba, Resso and Ulike by ByteDance. There are also apps from Chinese companies like Meitu, Perfect corp, Sina corp, Netease games and Lbe tech, if they fail to pass the national security and user privacy tests, they will be out of India. TikTok's ban was hurtful enough for China as the app lost 200 million users and 30 per cent of its global downloads, they now stand to lose the world's second-largest internet market with 450 million smartphone users.

India may ban Tencent-backed PUBG Mobile

TikTok is indeed China's global soft power.&nbsp;

For some, the app is a harmless video-sharing platform to encouarge hidden talent. However, many people see it as a platform for vulgarity and a national security threat.&nbsp;

Weeks after India officially banned TikTok, the US is thinking on similar lines.&nbsp;

Watch |&nbsp;

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The US fears that the data of their citizens is being used by China.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/tiktok-launches-200-million-fund-for-us-creators-despite-senate-ban-315622">TikTok launches $200 million fund for US creators despite Senate ban</a>

Earlier this week, a US Senate approved a bill, which bars federal employees from downloading and using TikTok. It is titled: 'No TikTok on Government Devices Act'.&nbsp;

This means no member or employee of the US Congress, government corporation will be allowed to download TikTok.&nbsp;

Not just TikTok, they are not allowed to download any app developed by TikTok's parent company ByteDance.&nbsp;

So far, the ban is limited to government employees, but there is a rising demand in US that a similar measure should be adopted for the entire American population.&nbsp;

For TikTok, America is its third largest market and the nation contributed to 8 per cent of the company's overall installations between January and June.&nbsp;

They cannot afford another major ouster and so they are presenting a more friendly face. They are injecting more cash to win hearts to the Americans.&nbsp;

TikTok has introduced a $200 million fund to reward American creators, known as TikTok Creator Fund.&nbsp;

The video-creating app will start accepting applications from August 18.&nbsp;

TikTok owners say under this fund, they will offer payouts to influencers who meet a certain baseline for the number of followers. It is also promising to help them collaborate on paid campaigns with brands.&nbsp;

This move is also meant to send out a message to countries like India that have already banned TikTok.&nbsp;

For weeks, the Chinese state media has been pushing propaganda stories about Indian TikTok stars going out of work with the decision by the government.&nbsp;

One article by Global Times headline said: "Indian app users, influencers baffled, hurt by ban of China's TikTok".&nbsp;

They use words like "hurt" and "baffled", which was felt by all the Indians after the Galwan Valley incident in Ladakh, in which 20 Indian Army personnel were martyred.&nbsp;

The Wuhan virus has "baffled" global economies, "hurt" investors, businesses and made thousands jobless, apart from killing millions.&nbsp;

As many as 213 countries and territories have been "hurt" and "baffled" by this pandemic.&nbsp;

Several of these countries are reimposing lockdowns keeping in mind a surge in new cases.&nbsp;

And only one nation has to be blamed for this, whose media gives sermons to India on how not to "hurt" and "baffle" others.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

TikTok is indeed China's global soft power. For some, the app is a harmless video-sharing platform to encouarge hidden talent. However, many people see it as a platform for vulgarity and a national security threat.

TikTok is indeed China's global soft power. For some, the app is a harmless video-sharing platform to encouarge hidden talent. However, many people see it as a platform for vulgarity and a national security threat. Weeks after India officially banned TikTok, the US is thinking on similar lines. Watch | The US fears that the data of their citizens is being used by China. Also read | TikTok launches $200 million fund for US creators despite Senate ban Earlier this week, a US Senate approved a bill, which bars federal employees from downloading and using TikTok. It is titled: 'No TikTok on Government Devices Act'. This means no member or employee of the US Congress, government corporation will be allowed to download TikTok. Not just TikTok, they are not allowed to download any app developed by TikTok's parent company ByteDance. So far, the ban is limited to government employees, but there is a rising demand in US that a similar measure should be adopted for the entire American population. For TikTok, America is its third largest market and the nation contributed to 8 per cent of the company's overall installations between January and June. They cannot afford another major ouster and so they are presenting a more friendly face. They are injecting more cash to win hearts to the Americans. TikTok has introduced a $200 million fund to reward American creators, known as TikTok Creator Fund. The video-creating app will start accepting applications from August 18. TikTok owners say under this fund, they will offer payouts to influencers who meet a certain baseline for the number of followers. It is also promising to help them collaborate on paid campaigns with brands. This move is also meant to send out a message to countries like India that have already banned TikTok. For weeks, the Chinese state media has been pushing propaganda stories about Indian TikTok stars going out of work with the decision by the government. One article by Global Times headline said: "Indian app users, influencers baffled, hurt by ban of China's TikTok". They use words like "hurt" and "baffled", which was felt by all the Indians after the Galwan Valley incident in Ladakh, in which 20 Indian Army personnel were martyred. The Wuhan virus has "baffled" global economies, "hurt" investors, businesses and made thousands jobless, apart from killing millions. As many as 213 countries and territories have been "hurt" and "baffled" by this pandemic. Several of these countries are reimposing lockdowns keeping in mind a surge in new cases. And only one nation has to be blamed for this, whose media gives sermons to India on how not to "hurt" and "baffle" others.

TikTok tries to lure US, send India a message: But who really got 'hurt', 'baffled'?

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