Trump signed executive orders last week barring business transactions with WeChat and TikTok, the popular video app. The actions came after Washington deemed apps from Chinese software companies national security threats, warning that they could jeopardize Americans’ privacy. In his rhetoric, Trump has kept the focus on TikTok, haranguing and threatening the company for months, but WeChat users may feel the effects of his actions more acutely. A White House petition “WeChat Should Not Be Banned” blew up on local WeChat feeds Friday. It’s hard to overstate how much of life for California’s Chinese diaspora unfolds on WeChat.

Source: Los Angeles Times August 12, 2020 12:02 UTC