WeChat will be fully banned on Sunday while TikTok's deadline for its deal with Oracle is on November 12.
Image credit: Koshiro K/Shutterstock
The Commerce Department plans to restrict access to TikTok and WeChat on Sunday as the Trump administration's executive orders against the two apps are set to take effect, according to CNN business.
The Department said Friday that, as of Sunday, any moves to distribute or maintain WeChat or TikTok on an app store will be prohibited. While users who have already downloaded the apps may be able to continue using the software, the restrictions mean updated versions of the apps cannot be downloaded.
The restrictions targeting WeChat are more extensive. Beginning Sunday, it will be illegal to host or transfer internet traffic associated with WeChat.
WeChat, one of the world's most popular social messaging apps, is owned by the Chinese Internet giant Tencent. And it is a popular marketing and sales tool for the United States companies, primarily in China. TikTok's parent company is Beijing-based ByteDance.
The department's move is the enforcement of Trump's original executive order from Aug 6 that gave TikTok 45 days to sell its US business to an American company or face a ban in that country. But the announcement also lays out a different time frame specific to TikTok, giving it until Nov 12 to resolve the US national security concerns.
The deadline set for the TikTok deal is a Sunday, Nov 12, leaving time for TikTok and Oracle to hammer out a deal that can be approved by Trump and the Chinese government.