Amazon told employees on Friday to remove the social video app TikTok from their mobile devices, citing “security risks," however by late in the afternoon, a company spokesperson said the message had been "sent in error."
In a statement to Cheddar, an Amazon spokesperson said, "This morning’s email to some of our employees was sent in error. There is no change to our policies right now with regard to TikTok."
According to images circulating on social media, the e-commerce giant said in a staff memo that U.S. employees must delete the app from any devices used to access their work email by Friday, or lose mobile access to their email.
“Due to security risks, the TikTok app is no longer permitted on mobile devices that access Amazon email,” the memo said, according to a copy of the email tweeted by New York Times reporter Taylor Lorenz.
Workers will apparently still be allowed to view the platform from their laptop browser, according to the message.
The announcement comes days after U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the Trump administration was “looking at” banning TikTok and other Chinese apps, calling them a threat to national security.
When asked whether U.S. citizens should download the social app, Pompeo told Fox News on Monday, “Only if you want your private information in the hands of the Chinese Communist Party.”
TikTok, which is owned by Chinese tech company ByteDance, has said all its U.S. user data is stored in servers in the United States, with a backup in Singapore. The short-form video app said Tuesday it will stop operations in Hong Kong "in light of recent events,” and is assessing the implications of China’s newly passed national security law over the autonomous region.
In response to Amazon’s ban, TikTok reportedly said in a statement on Friday it is committed to respecting the privacy of its users.
“While Amazon did not communicate to us before sending their email, and we still do not understand their concerns, we welcome a dialogue so we can address any issues they may have and enable their team to continue participating in our community.”
Amazon did not immediately respond to Cheddar’s request for comment.
The Rev. Al Sharpton is set to lead a protest march on Wall Street to urge corporate America to resist the Trump administration’s campaign to roll back diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. The New York civil rights leader will join clergy, labor and community leaders Thursday in a demonstration through Manhattan’s Financial District that’s timed with the anniversary of the Civil Rights-era March on Washington in 1963. Sharpton called DEI the “civil rights fight of our generation." He and other Black leaders have called for boycotting American retailers that scaled backed policies and programs aimed at bolstering diversity and reducing discrimination in their ranks.
President Donald Trump's administration last month awarded a $1.2 billion contract to build and operate what's expected to become the nation’s largest immigration detention complex to a tiny Virginia firm with no experience running correction facilities.
Chipmaker Nvidia is poised to release a quarterly report that could provide a better sense of whether the stock market has been riding an overhyped artificial intelligence bubble or is being propelled by a technological boom that’s still gathering momentum.
Cracker Barrel said late Tuesday it’s returning to its old logo after critics — including President Donald Trump — protested the company’s plan to modernize.
Low-value imports are losing their duty-free status in the U.S. this week as part of President Donald Trump's agenda for making the nation less dependent on foreign goods. A widely used customs exemption for international shipments worth $800 or less is set to end starting on Friday. Trump already ended the “de minimis” rule for inexpensive items sent from China and Hong Kong, but having to pay import taxes on small parcels from everywhere else likely will be a big change for some small businesses and online shoppers. Purchases that previously entered the U.S. without needing to clear customs will be subject to the origin country’s tariff rate, which can range from 10% to 50%.
Southwest Airlines will soon require plus-size travelers to pay for an extra seat in advance if they can't fit within the armrests of one seat. This change is part of several updates the airline is making. The new rule starts on Jan. 27, the same day Southwest begins assigning seats. Currently, plus-size passengers can pay for an extra seat in advance and later get a refund, or request a free extra seat at the airport. Under the new policy, refunds are still possible but not guaranteed. Southwest said in a statement it is updating policies to prepare for assigned seating next year.
Cracker Barrel is sticking with its new logo. For now. But the chain is also apologizing to fans who were angered when the change was announced last week.
Elon Musk on Monday targeted Apple and OpenAI in an antitrust lawsuit alleging that the iPhone maker and the ChatGPT maker are teaming up to thwart competition in artificial intelligence.
