US president Donald Trump on Tuesday ordered a ban of eight apps linked to Chinese companies.
Trump alleged that these apps – Alipay, WeChat Pay, QQ Wallet, Tencent QQ, CamScanner, SHAREit, VMate and WPS Office could share user information to the Chinese government and be a threat to US national security.
The executive order restricting these apps will take effect in 45 days, weeks after the expiration of Trump’s time in office.
The new ban by Trump comes after previous executive orders aimed at banning a Chinese company TikTok were denied by a court ruling that indicated Trump overstepped his legal jurisdiction.
“The United States must take aggressive action against those who develop or control Chinese connected software applications to protect our national security,” the order said.
“By accessing personal electronic devices such as smartphones, tablets, and computers, Chinese connected software applications can access and capture vast swaths of information from users, including sensitive personally identifiable information and private information.”
“We are trying to articulate to the world and take steps to stop the encroachment of China’s big data strategy – photos, text messages, phone calls to parents – from being fed into this mass tool for global oppression”
