Bans lifted against TikTok and WeChat in the U.S.

The ordered bans against TikTok and WeChat in the US were lifted by Joe Biden. Instead, an audit and analysis will first be conducted before possible sanctions are levied.

Ban gives way to new decree

Donald Trump, the predecessor of the current US president, had ordered bans against TikTok and WeChat. The government had deemed the Chinese applications a risk to the data of people in the U.S. as well as national security. As a result, the bans were ordered. These have now been lifted by Joe Biden and the regulations adjusted accordingly. Thus, first of all, a “criteria-based” examination is to take place before sanctions are imposed on companies.

The new decree was signed on Wednesday. Through this decree, U.S. authorities are to review software applications with links to enemy states. Eight other unspecified communications and financial applications are also affected.

Commenting on the new executive order, the White House says: “The Biden administration is committed to promoting an open, interoperable, reliable, and secure Internet, protecting human rights, and supporting a vibrant global digital economy.” Countries such as China, for example, do not share such values and want to use digital technologies and also data from the U.S. in a way that could create security risks as well as promotes controls.

Security risk review and analysis

Through the decree, there will be a “criteria-based decision-making framework” and also rigorous, evidence-based analysis, according to Joe Biden. This is intended to counter security risks posed by the transfer of data from software applications that are owned or controlled by a foreign adversary. Sanctions will only follow if there is a possibility of unreasonable or unacceptable national security risks to the country.