TikTok 'shocked' by US executive order and impending ban
Social media platform TikTok says that President Donald Trump's executive order that will ban TikTok and WeChat in the US was issued without due process, and it will fight the order.
Following President Trump's signing of an Executive Order that bans both TikTok and WeChat in the US from September 20, the former company has issued a statement saying it disagrees with the decision, and will "pursue all remedies."
"We are shocked by the recent Executive Order, which was issued without any due process," says the company in a statement on its website. "For nearly a year, we have sought to engage with the US government in good faith to provide a constructive solution to the concerns that have been expressed."
"What we encountered instead," it continues, "was that the Administration paid no attention to facts, dictated terms of an agreement without going through standard legal processes, and tried to insert itself into negotiations between private businesses."
Saying that it has sought to work with the US to address "concerns that have been expressed," TikTok says that it has made available its "algorithm source code... which is a level of accountability no peer company has admitted to."
"This Executive Order risks undermining global businesses' trust in the United States' commitment to the rule of law, which has served as a magnet for investment and spurred decades of American economic growth," continues the statement. "And it sets a dangerous precedent for the concept of free expression and open markets."
"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," it says.
TikTok's point about negotiations "between private businesses," alludes to President Trump's comment that the US Treasury should receive a cut if Microsoft or any other American firm buys TikTok.
The new Executive Order also follows US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's announcement of plans to create a "clean network," free of "untrusted Chinese apps." There has not yet been a comment from WeChat, which is also blocked from any transactions with US companies.
Following President Trump's signing of an Executive Order that bans both TikTok and WeChat in the US from September 20, the former company has issued a statement saying it disagrees with the decision, and will "pursue all remedies."
"We are shocked by the recent Executive Order, which was issued without any due process," says the company in a statement on its website. "For nearly a year, we have sought to engage with the US government in good faith to provide a constructive solution to the concerns that have been expressed."
"What we encountered instead," it continues, "was that the Administration paid no attention to facts, dictated terms of an agreement without going through standard legal processes, and tried to insert itself into negotiations between private businesses."
Saying that it has sought to work with the US to address "concerns that have been expressed," TikTok says that it has made available its "algorithm source code... which is a level of accountability no peer company has admitted to."
"This Executive Order risks undermining global businesses' trust in the United States' commitment to the rule of law, which has served as a magnet for investment and spurred decades of American economic growth," continues the statement. "And it sets a dangerous precedent for the concept of free expression and open markets."
"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," it says.
TikTok's point about negotiations "between private businesses," alludes to President Trump's comment that the US Treasury should receive a cut if Microsoft or any other American firm buys TikTok.
The new Executive Order also follows US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's announcement of plans to create a "clean network," free of "untrusted Chinese apps." There has not yet been a comment from WeChat, which is also blocked from any transactions with US companies.
Comments
The tool to win the war was tariffs and most industry watchers have made it clear that China hasn't really been paying them. US citizens have borne the brunt.
China, in tit for tat measures, manoeuvred to lower tariffs on countries who could supply its needs, plunging industries like US agriculture to the brink of economic collapse.
In an attempt to get something, anything, to talk about, Trump lauded the phase 1 deal which didn't even include any obligations on China's part to fulfil commitments to anything included in it. Now, Trump is basically saying that deal is not worth the paper it's written on.
From the get go China made it clear that they were in this for the long haul and would suffer but, at the same time, resist and wait things out.
As elections approach and Trump has little cause to celebrate anything, time is not on his side and we are seeing actions like those against Huawei and Byte Dance and Tencent look evermore desperate. All the while, China is basically doing nothing.
As he said the trade war was easy to win and he very much hasn't won anything (he has actually caused great harm to US interests), saying he flopped makes a lot of sense.
China should have pulled into line long ago under such pressure but it's clear they haven't.
Avon - One thing I would like to remind you whenever the discussion is on politics - FACTS do NOT matter to majority of the people. All they need is - Catchy phrases that they can connect with and repeat shamelessly even if they are blatant lies. On that count - Trump seems to be playing PERFECTLY to the gallery, i.e. his supporters. So it is quite possible that Trump wins one more term and cause more harm to the entire world with his shenanigans.
Why do i say this? - I have seen the exact same thing played out in my country (India) where right wing extremists won 2nd term on the basis of lies after lies. And majority of the people were more than happy to hear those lies day in, day out and voted the same party to power last year.
No, no, anything against Trump would need solid, irrefutable evidence, verified by courts. When the allegation is made by Trump, there is NO evidence required because he is always a truth-teller, above-law and he can do no wrong ever (almost like a god). That is the stance of people like Spam, so you have to weigh up whether there is ANY use in arguing with such people.
A lot of farms have gone out of business and although the agricultural sector has seen billions injected to keep it afloat (twice) some producers are saying they don’t want handouts, they want to sell their harvests. That is where Trump supposedly has a lot of support.
The COVID-19 response has largely been criticised worldwide.
The trade war is ongoing and looking far from over.
The hurricane season is looking like a nasty one this year.
California seems to have a perpetual problem with wildfires.
The Black Lives Matter protests are ongoing.
Not to mention that he was actually impeached.
I would like to think that even the most fervent Trump supporter may stand back and reflect a bit on where the US is, how it got there and where it is going.
If a small fraction of his supporters drop support, things might change.
Actions often speak louder than words and the entire world saw what the US response was to COVID-19. The term 'America First' took a dramatic new twist with US officials literally trying to get results through hard cash. To the point of allies complaining that the US was trying to divert their already purchased medical equipment into US hands by offering big dollars. A similar approach has been seen with vaccine purchases.
This has not sat well with foreign powers who were never even in favour of Trump from the start.
Frankly the list of questionable responses to various fronts is growing daily.
I know that a lot of his supporters are not aware of any of this but it would only take a fraction to change their opinion for, perhaps, change to occur.
Fail #3 Border wall is still incomplete and Mexico didn’t pay for it.