By AFP More by this AuthorWashingtonPresident Donald Trump said Friday he will bar fast-growing social media app TikTok from the United States as American authorities have raised concerns the service could be a tool for Chinese intelligence. Media reports circulated earlier Friday saying that Trump would require the US operations of the app be divested from its Chinese parent firm ByteDance, but the president announced a ban. Speaking to reporters on Air Force One, Trump said: "As far as TikTok is concerned, we're banning them from the United States." TikTok, especially popular with young audiences who create and watch its short-form videos, has an estimated billion users worldwide. Queried, TikTok declined to comment on the reports of the forced sales, saying only: "We are confident in the long-term success of TikTok.

Source: Daily Nation August 01, 2020 03:56 UTC