https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2020/07/trump-administration-looking-into-ban-on-tiktok-other-chinese-apps/
I'm surprised they bother to make a cover story for this. There's no way this isn't purely presidential ire directed specifically at TikTok for the widespread reports that their users contributed to vastly inflated attendance expectations at his Oklahoma rally, and the subsequent nearly universal media declaration that said rally was a flop.
Of course, since it was reported that the majority of TikTokkers involved were overseas, I don't see how this affects future "love-bombing" of Trump events, but then, reality was never this gang's strong suit.
Ars Technica said:The Trump administration is considering banning Chinese social media apps inside the United States, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Monday. The ban would start with popular short-video platform TikTok.
"We're taking this very seriously. We're certainly looking at [TikTok]," Pompeo said during a televised interview with Fox News. He directly and explicitly linked the considered ban on TikTok and other apps to the administration's actions against other Chinese tech firms.
"We've worked on this very issue for a long time, whether it was the problems of having Huawei technology in your infrastructure, we've gone all over the world and we're making real progress getting that out," he said. "We declared ZTE a danger to American national security, we've done all of these things. With respect to the Chinese apps on people's cell phones I can assure you the United States will get this one right. I don't want to get out in front of the president, but it's something we’re looking at."
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I'm surprised they bother to make a cover story for this. There's no way this isn't purely presidential ire directed specifically at TikTok for the widespread reports that their users contributed to vastly inflated attendance expectations at his Oklahoma rally, and the subsequent nearly universal media declaration that said rally was a flop.
Of course, since it was reported that the majority of TikTokkers involved were overseas, I don't see how this affects future "love-bombing" of Trump events, but then, reality was never this gang's strong suit.