TikTok is laying off employees in India as ban becomes permanent
The popular brief video app revealed Wednesday that it will cut employees in India after it had “not been given a clear direction on how and when our apps could be reinstated.”
“It is deeply regretful that after supporting our 2000+ employees in India for more than half a year, we have no choice but to scale back the size of our workforce,” a TikTok representative stated in a declaration.
TikTok, which is owned by Beijing-based ByteDance, did not state the number of employees would be impacted, and it did not right away react to an ask for remark for more information.
And though TikTok stated today that it has “worked steadfastly to comply with” authorities in the nation, such efforts appear to have actually had little result.
A source in the Ministry of Electronic Devices and IT informed CNN Company on Wednesday that the federal government chose today to make the restriction irreversible since it was disappointed with how the Chinese business had actually attended to issues about information collection and security.
“We continually strive to make our apps comply with local laws and regulations, and do our best to address any concerns they have,” the TikTok representative stated. “It is therefore disappointing that in the ensuing seven months, despite our efforts we have not been given a clear direction on how and when our apps could be reinstated.”
The representative included that the business hopes the app will one day be permitted to return.
High-running stress
Last August, CEO Daniel Zhang revealed that the business had “decided to stop the operations” of UC Web browser, a web searching app, and other efforts in India.
“We do not expect it to have a material impact on the group’s overall financial performance,” he informed experts throughout an incomes call, mentioning an “extensive review of the business.”
A UC Web browser representative decreased to comment.
“Tencent complies with all applicable orders and regulations, and continues to adhere to applicable laws in the jurisdictions in which we operate. We look forward to continuing to focus on our core markets and providing valuable services for our users,” a representative stated in a declaration to CNN Company. The business decreased to supply more information.
Ji Rong, a representative of the Chinese Embassy in India, on Wednesday repeated China’s opposition to the restriction.
“Since last year, the Indian side has repeatedly used national security as an excuse to prohibit some mobile apps with Chinese background. These moves [are] in violation of WTO non-discriminatory principles,” she stated.
Geopolitical stress in between India and China, on the other hand, have actually continued to simmer. On Monday, the Indian Army revealed that there had actually been a “minor” face-off in between Indian soldiers and China’s Individuals’s Freedom Army.
The event occurred last Wednesday near a contested border high in the Mountain range, and “was resolved by local commanders as per established protocols,” the Indian Army stated in a declaration.
— Vedika Sud, Steven Jiang, Rishi Iyengar and Manveena Suri added to this report.
Jobber Wiki author Frank Long contributed to this report.