U.S. bans WeChat, TikTok as China becomes major focus of election

The Trump administration announced Friday that it is banning China’s TikTok and WeChat services from mobile app stores beginning late Sunday, an unprecedented move that further unravels the United States’ quickly deteriorating relationship with China.

Administration officials called the bans necessary to protect national security and prevent Beijing from exploiting the apps to collect user data or disseminate propaganda. But the measures drew quick criticism from First Amendment defenders such as the American Civil Liberties Union and even from TikTok rival Instagram.

Read the full story and more from The Washington Post.