Junking another Trump administration move that threatened to ban new downloads of WeChat and TikTok, the new US dispensation led by President Joe Biden on Wednesday recalled a series of executive orders in this regard and ordered a new Commerce Department review of security concerns posed by those apps.
The White House in an announcement on Wednesday also said that the administration of former President Donald Trump had attempted to block new users from downloading the apps and ban other technical transactions.
The Chinese-owned TikTok and WeChat had later threatened to effectively block the apps’ use in the United States. The courts blocked those orders that never took effect.
Advertisement
EVENT
Saksham Bharat 2026
A multi-stakeholder dialogue on skilling gap in Cybersecurity, Data Resilience and AI — and the roadmap to a Saksham Bharat.
Infosec Reimagined 2026 is the premier information security summit where top leaders—CISOs, CROs, CIOs, CTOs and risk executives—converge to redefine cyber resilience.
Digital Senate is a premier conference uniting government leaders, technologists and innovators to share ideas, success stories and strategies on digital governance, public sector transformation, cybersecurity and emerging technologies in India.
CIO Prism unites forward-thinking technology leaders to exchange transformative insights, shape digital strategies, and foster innovation, empowering enterprises to excel in an era of rapid technological change.
Meanwhile, Biden’s new executive order revokes the WeChat and TikTok orders, along with another in January that targeted eight other communications and financial technology software applications.
A separate US national security review of TikTok remains ongoing, a White House official said.
Tech Observer Desk at TechObserver.in is a team of technology reporters led by a senior editor who brings latest updates and developments from the world of technology.
Google for Startups and Antler India have launched a hybrid programme for up to 5,000 AI startup founders. The two-phase initiative runs from June 2026 with applications closing 22 May.
