US to block downloads of WeChat and TikTok

Alleged concerns on national security branded as 'tricks of economic bullying'

The administration of US President Donald Trump will ban WeChat and video-sharing app Tik-Tok from US app stores starting on Sunday night, a move that will block local people from downloading the Chinese-owned platforms over alleged concerns that they pose a national security threat.

Current TikTok users will see little change on Sunday and US Commerce Department officials said they will not bar additional technical transactions for TikTok until Nov 12, which gives the company time to see if owner ByteDance can clinch an agreement over the fate of its operations in the United States.

"The basic TikTok will stay intact until Nov 12," Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross told Fox Business Network on Friday.