TikTok, which is owned by Chinese company ByteDance, will quit the Hong Kong market within days after Beijing implemented a new national security law last week, Reuters reported on Tuesday, citing the firm’s spokesperson.
The decision comes after several Western internet giants such as Facebook, Google, and Twitter announced that they will deny law enforcement requests for user data in Hong Kong, as they assess the current situation.
“In light of recent events, we’ve decided to stop operations of the TikTok app in Hong Kong,” a company spokesperson was cited by Reuters. The official last day of the app in Hong Kong has yet to be disclosed. Last August, TikTok claimed to have 150,000 users in the territory.
TikTok’s operation in its largest overseas market India has also ceased since the Indian government imposed a ban on Chinese apps citing cybersecurity concerns.
This article is part of KrASIA’s “China Brief” section, where KrASIA’s reporters will provide quick daily updates about the tech ecosystem in China.