Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images; Samantha Lee/Business Insider
- The US barred US citizens from downloading TikTok and WeChat from Sunday, via a new order issued by the Commerce Department.
- The order bars Apple and Google from hosting the TikTok and WeChat apps on their US app storefronts.
- Sources told Reuters the ban could be rescinded by Sunday if TikTok manages to get the greenlight on its deal with Oracle before then.
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The US has banned TikTok and WeChat from US app stores in a new order that comes into effect from September 20.
The order, issued on Friday by the US Commerce Department, effectively bars US citizens from downloading the two Chinese-owned apps from either Apple or Google’s app storefronts.
As of September 20 the Commerce Department confirmed it will prohibit: “Any provision of service to distribute or maintain the WeChat or TikTok mobile applications, constituent code, or application updates through an online mobile application store in the U.S.”
According to an earlier Reuters report, the ban could still be rescinded ahead of Sunday if TikTok finalizes a deal with US tech giant Oracle before the September 20 deadline. Oracle and TikTok submitted a proposed deal to the US government for approval on Monday.
The September 20 deadline was originally set by an August 6 executive order signed by President Trump barring US citizens from any “transactions” with TikTok’s parent company ByteDance and WeChat.
This story is developing…
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