WeChat Users Won't Be Targeted By Trump's Order, US Says (bloomberg.com) 14
An anonymous reader quotes a report from Bloomberg: WeChat users who download the Chinese app for personal or business communications won't be targeted by President Donald Trump's executive order that will prohibit using the app for some transactions, the U.S. said. The U.S. Commerce Department plans to clarify by Sept. 20 which transactions will be prohibited. But it doesn't intend to define "the relevant transactions in such a way that would impose criminal or civil liability on such users," according to a government filing Wednesday in federal court in San Francisco.
The U.S. WeChat Users Alliance is seeking a preliminary injunction against Trump's executive order. A hearing on the request is scheduled for Thursday. According to the WeChat users group, Trump's Aug. 6 order would sunder the primary and often exclusive channel many U.S. residents use to communicate with family and friends in both China and the U.S. WeChat is also used to run businesses and non-profit organizations, practice religion and as a source news. WeChat is so integral to Chinese and Chinese Americans' lives that a ban would be like "losing a limb" for some users, the group claims. "Having first failed to articulate any actual national security concern, the administration's latest 'assurances' that users can keep using WeChat, and exchange their personal and business information, only further illustrates the hollowness and pre-textual nature of defendants' 'national security' rationales," the group said in a court filing.
The U.S. WeChat Users Alliance is seeking a preliminary injunction against Trump's executive order. A hearing on the request is scheduled for Thursday. According to the WeChat users group, Trump's Aug. 6 order would sunder the primary and often exclusive channel many U.S. residents use to communicate with family and friends in both China and the U.S. WeChat is also used to run businesses and non-profit organizations, practice religion and as a source news. WeChat is so integral to Chinese and Chinese Americans' lives that a ban would be like "losing a limb" for some users, the group claims. "Having first failed to articulate any actual national security concern, the administration's latest 'assurances' that users can keep using WeChat, and exchange their personal and business information, only further illustrates the hollowness and pre-textual nature of defendants' 'national security' rationales," the group said in a court filing.
Where could there possibly be a problem? (Score:2)
With a communication app that uses AES to"encrypt" users communication? We all know there's no man in the middle attack using AES? China wouldn't allow it, would they!
Re: (Score:2)
A lot of Chinese Americans use WeChat to communicate with their families. There are some other apps from companies that collaborate with the Chinese government (e.g. Apple and Microsoft, although Skype is banned) but good luck getting your extended family to all switch.
I wonder if Tim Apple had a word with Trump about this, the consequences for his company could be dire if there is a ban.
Re: (Score:2)
Trump Cruelties, Collusions, Corruptions, Crimes (Score:1, Informative)
For now (Score:2)
When businesses were targeted without rules, who can say what/who Trump will target next?
Re: For now - u guessed it (Score:2)
But Apple (Score:1)
can they keep it in the app store in USA or in China?
Does it practically matter? (Score:1)
Does this have a practical, large-scale effect in the US?