US Ban on TikTok and WeChat on hold for now!

With the recent partnership of TikTok with Oracle and Walmart, it looks like the ban has possibly been extended. US President Donald Trump reportedly gave his approval and blessing to this deal. Accordingly, the US Commerce Department has extended the deadline on the ban of TickTok to 27th September for now.

Meanwhile, the ban on WeChat also seems to have come on a hold. The US Magistrate Judge Laurel Beeler issued a 22-page preliminary injunction against the court challenge by plaintiffs including US-based WeChat users. This effectively has blocked the order to ban WeChat downloads in the US for now.

Beeler also wrote in view of First Amendment rights. “The plaintiffs’ evidence reflects that WeChat is effectively the only means of communication for many in the community, not only because China bans other apps, but also because Chinese speakers with limited English proficiency have no options other than WeChat”

So looks like the ban on TikTok and WeChat for the US will be on hold for atleast sometime time in the future!