WeChat ‘Blocks’ TikTok — Again

ABOUT US

CX Tech is Caixin Global's real-time tech news portal, featuring 24-hour news, short-form analysis, and roundups from business and tech media in China.

TRENDING: GPT Weekly: CoreWeave Secures $6.3 Billion Nvidia Order; Huawei Unveils Three-Year AI Chip Roadmap as Nvidia Faces Setbacks in China

LATEST: GPT Weekly: CoreWeave Secures $6.3 Billion Nvidia Order; Huawei Unveils Three-Year AI Chip Roadmap as Nvidia Faces Setbacks in China; Tencent Cloud Shuns Price War in Intensifying AI Race; China’s Regulator Ramps Up Push to Curb Food Delivery Subsidy War; Chinese Robot Startup Unitree Gears Up for Market Debut; China Enforces AI Content Labeling Rules to Curb Misuse; Tech Brief (Sept. 2): China Rolls Out Mandatory AI Labeling; Meituan Enters Open-Source AI Race With LongCat Model; Tech Brief (Aug. 29): SenseTime Reports Strong AI Growth; All Hail the Driverless Taxis as China Eyes a $183 Billion Market; Tech Brief (Aug. 27): Cambricon Reports $128 Million Profit, Stock More Than Doubles Since July; Tech Brief (Aug. 26): Musk’s xAI Sues Apple and OpenAI Over Alleged AI Market Monopoly; Exclusive: NetEase’s Youdao CEO Explains How AI Agents Could Build a Future of Virtual Teachers; Ant Group Teams up With Top Beijing Hospital to Launch AI Healthcare Lab; Didi and Meituan Clash in Brazil as Food Delivery Battle Goes to Court; Google Denies Rumors It Is Resuming Full Services on Chinese Mainland; China Proves a Winner in the Gaming Market as Growth Hits a Five-Year High; China’s Booster Robotics Lands New Funding as it Hits a Winning Streak; Amazon to Shut Down Shanghai AI Lab Amid Strategic Shift; Cover Story: A New Gold Rush Begins in China’s Hard Tech Sector

By Charlotte Yang / Jan 24, 2019 04:29 PM / Business & Tech

Photo: VCG

Another feud is brewing between China’s most popular short-video platform and tech giant WeChat.

On Wednesday, TikTok (known as Douyin in China), said that many new users were unable to log in to its platform via WeChat.

TikTok said an inspection found no tech failures on its end, and assumes the problem is stemming from WeChat.

“Since there was no advanced notification from WeChat, it is not clear whether this is a technical failure by WeChat’s login service or a result of other human factors,” TikTok said in its notice.

WeChat has previously restricted access to competitors’ app and articles — including TikTok — but says it does so because of violation of its usage policies.

Last year, WeChat owner Tencent restricted access to TikTok articles published on Tencent platforms. The two sides are also suing each other for unfair competition in cases that are under review by a district court in Beijing.

To circumvent the current blockage, TikTok advised users to log in using alternate methods, such as with cellphone numbers.

WeChat told Caixin it would officially comment on the matter later Thursday.

Support independent journalism from China. Subscribe to Caixin Global starting at $0.99.

Share this article

Open WeChat and scan the QR code