BY GENALYN KABILING
Filipinos may still enjoy using TikTok since the government is not inclined to ban the popular short video application in the country.
According to Presidential spokesman Harry Roque, President Duterte respects free speech and has not banned any website in the country.
Roque added that the government finds no reason to shut down TikTok operations in the country despite moves by some countries to prohibit its operation.
“Wala pong ganoon. Sa mga nagsasabi na nanunupil si Presidente ng karapatan ng malayang pananalita, walang kahit anong website na bina-ban ang president,” he said during a televised press briefing Tuesday when asked if the government has security concerns about TikTok operations in the country.
“Wala akong dahilan na nakikita na i-ban ang TikTok dito sa Pilipinas,” said Roque, a known TikTok user.
The video app reportedly has millions of users across the world who share videos with music and special effects. TikTok has so far been banned India while comes under scrutiny from other countries over security and privacy issues.
US President Donald Trump has threatened to shut down TikTok operations in the by mid-September if an American company does not buy the Chinese-owned company.
Trump earlier divulged plans to ban TikTok app due to security concerns but softened his stance when Microsoft disclosed the planned acquisition of the company in the United States. (Genalyn Kabiling)
