No you misunderstand - Read the article, TikTok would sell off to keep operating in the US (just like Amazon had to sell off data centers to operate them in the EU). The US government wouldn’t be forcing Microsoft, just saying if you want to operate with American data you have to be on American soil.
> Anyways such straight reciprocal actions are often the naivest, and most simplistic of possible responses anyway
But you haven’t offered an alternative. They should respond, I don’t think this is an unreasonable way to do it.
More over I don't think President has power/authority to ban anything at all, let alone apps on privately administered app stores. President isn't a dictator elected by the people.
There might be legitimate grounds to take action against an app/service like data breaches or copyright infringement, even terms of right violations, but nothing of that seems to be the case. Even if it was the case, it would have to go through the legal justice system.
From what I have seen, the theory of threats to national security being bandied about isn't substantial nor concrete enough to hold in courts.
So if TikTok does not run afoul of our laws, there shouldn't be grounds for banning that or any other app citing vague and theoretical national security considerations.
You're saying amazon don't own their EU data centers? That's surprising to me. Got a source for that?
There are not such limits on the authority of the Chinese government.
I don't know about China, but US executive and legislative have limits to their authority and I doubt such arbitrary bans are within that.
US seems least bothered about US apps/companies not being allowed in China and other countries, and retaliation for such does not seems the motive for US actions in this topic.
Anyways such straight reciprocal actions are often the naivest, and most simplistic of possible responses anyway.