On Tuesday, Trump issued an executive order banning future transactions involving Alipay, qq Wallet, Tencent QQ, WeChat Pay and eight other Chinese programs.
Letter to Congress on addressing threats posed by apps and other software developed or controlled by Chinese companies
To the United States Congress.
Pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. § 1701 et seq.), the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. § 1601 et seq.), and 3 U.S.C. § 301, I hereby report that I have issued an Executive Order declaring that, in connection with Executive Order 13873 of May 15, 2019 (Securing the Information and Security of the Information and Communications Technology and Services Supply Chain) declared a national emergency with respect to the information and communications technology and services supply chain to address threats posed by applications and other software developed or controlled by Chinese companies.
The speed and pervasiveness of the dissemination in the United States of certain connected mobile and desktop applications and other software developed or controlled by persons in the People’s Republic of China, including Hong Kong and Macau (China), continues to threaten the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States. By accessing personal electronic devices such as smartphones, tablets, and computers, China’s connected software applications can access and obtain large amounts of information about users, including sensitive personally identifiable information and private information. The ongoing activities of the People’s Republic of China and the Chinese Communist Party to steal or otherwise access U.S. personal data are a clear indication of the intent to use mass data collection to advance China’s economic and national security agenda. To address this threat, additional measures need to be taken against those who develop or control certain Chinese connected software applications in order to protect our national security.
The Executive Order prohibits certain future transactions involving the following Chinese connected software applications identified by the Secretary of Commerce: Alipay, Scan All King (CamScanner), QQ Wallet, Cheese Express (SHAREit), Tencent QQ, VMate, WeChat Pay, and WPS Office.
The Commerce Secretary was also directed to
(1) continue to evaluate Chinese interconnected software applications that may pose an unacceptable risk to U.S. national security, foreign policy, or the economy, and take appropriate action in accordance with Executive Order 13873; and
(2) in consultation with the Attorney General and the Director of National Intelligence, submit a report to the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs with recommendations to prevent the sale or transfer of U.S. user data to, or access to such data by, foreign adversaries, including regulations and policies to identify, control, and license the export of such data.
I have authorized the Secretary of Commerce, in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury and the Attorney General, to take such action, including the adoption of appropriate rules and regulations and the use of all other authorities granted to the President under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, to implement the Executive Order. The heads of all executive departments and agencies are directed to take all appropriate measures within their authority to carry out the provisions of this Executive Order.
A copy of the Executive Order issued by me is enclosed.
Trump
The White House
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