Fears over TikTok’s Chinese ownership are setting up a battle between the Trump administration and the site’s users.
The security concerns even led Amazon to briefly prohibit use of the social media site by its workers Friday morning, only to backtrack later in the day, calling the ban a mistake.
On Friday, Amazon sent an email to employees ordering them to delete the app from phones that also have access to Amazon email accounts, citing “security risks,” according to a copy of the message shared with The Washington Post. (Amazon chief executive Jeff Bezos owns The Post.)
Amazon spokeswoman Jaci Anderson said later on Friday that the email was sent in error.
“This morning’s email to some of our employees was sent in error,” she said in a statement. “There is no change to our policies right now with regard to TikTok.”
Earlier in the week, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told Fox News host Laura Ingraham that the administration was “certainly looking at it,” when she asked if the government was considering banning the app after India prohibited it and some other Chinese-owned apps.
“We have no higher priority than promoting a safe and secure app experience for our users,” TikTok spokeswoman Hilary McQuaide said in a statement. “We have never provided user data to the Chinese government, nor would we do so if asked.”
She added that the company was willing to work with Amazon on its concerns. “While Amazon did not communicate to us before sending their email, and we still do not understand their concerns, we welcome a dialogue so we can address any issues they may have and enable their team to continue participating in our community,” she said.
The U.S. State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment on a possible review of the app or what action the agency is considering taking. A senior White House administration official said the government is concerned about Beijing’s censorship of Chinese apps.
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