Science & Technology

Trump gives his ‘blessing’ to preliminary TikTok agreement

Washington, Sep 19 (efe-epa).- United States President Donald Trump said Saturday that he had given “his blessing” to a possible agreement with TikTok by which the Chinese social network would associate with US companies Oracle and Walmart to operate in the US,adding that negotiations continue.

“I have given my blessing to the agreement, if they achieve it, it would be great and, if not, it would also be good, but it is a great agreement for the US,” said the president, who shortly after added that he approved the agreement “in concept.”

On Friday, the US Department of Commerce announced that it would block downloads of TikTok and the WeChat (Chinese WhatsApp) messaging network on US app-buying sites starting Sunday, and that Authorities would veto its full use in the United States as of Nov. 12, citing national security concerns.

The president did not clarify Saturday whether the agreement would paralyze the measures that his government plans to adopt from Sunday against TikTok and WeChat.

On several occasions, Trump has said TikTok, one of the social networks that has grown the most in recent years, poses a “threat” to US national security and intends to force its sale to a US company.

Trump said Saturday that Oracle and Walmart would partner with TikTok, “the security would be 100 percent, they will be using separate clouds and very powerful security and they will be making a contribution of 5$ billion in education.”

“We will see if it happens or not, but conceptually I think it is a great agreement for the United States,” said the president, who pointed out that if a pact is reached, 25,000 jobs will be created, mostly in Texas and that it will be a new company, although it will keep the TikTok name.

According to the US Government, TikTok and WeChat “store vast amounts of user data, including network activity, their location, and their search and browsing history.”

These companies, according to the Commerce Department, are active participants in China’s combined civil and military activities and are subject to mandatory cooperation with the Chinese Communist Party’s intelligence services.

China said Friday that it will act against foreign companies and individuals who “endanger” its sovereignty and security, and issued new rules related to its list of “untrustworthy entities”, announced more than 15 months ago and yet to be published. , by which it could sanction US firms and individuals in response to the measures of the Trump Administration.

China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs opposes the forced sale of TikTok, an operation that in its opinion violates the principles of the World Trade Organization (WTO).

The Chinese government sees the intention of selling TikTok as another chapter in the trade war between Beijing and Washington, which tries to contain the growing technological power of the Asian giant.

China has already seen how telecommunications firm Huawei has faced restrictions, as well as the popular social network WeChat, owned by digital conglomerate Tencent. EFE-EPA

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