The US Justice Department recently announced that it is appealing a judge’s ruling to block the government from banning Apple and Google from offering the popular Chinese app, WeChat, through their respective app stores.
For those unaware, a recent crackdown saw the social media application also face a possible ban by the US Government, which might have even extended across Android and iOS devices in China. However, the government has now stated that is appealing the ruling passed by the Magistrate Judge Laurel Beeler. This judgment had blocked the US Commerce Department’s order, which would have barred every US based transactions with Tencent Holding’s WeChat. This would effectively have made the app unavailable/unusable in the US.
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Initially, the Justice Department stated that Beeler’s orders were in error and “permits the continued, unfettered use of WeChat, a mobile application that the Executive Branch has determined constitutes a threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States.” On the other hand, WeChat Users Alliance, the group that is fighting the legal battles against the WeChat ban said that the department “has still presented no compelling national security interest to justify such an unprecedented ban.”
Furthermore, the group also added that Tencent had tried to negotiate a settlement with the Commerce Department as well, offering numerous mitigation measures and even to address any data security concerns. Judge Beeler also added that WeChat users have “have shown serious questions going to the merits of the First Amendment claim,” which guarantees freedom of speech. The app has millions of daily active users in the country and plays an integral role in many lives, especially Chinese students living in America. Although, it remains to be seen just how the entire situation plays out. So stay tuned for more updates.
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