The United States, the United Kingdom and New Zealand banned TikTok, a short-form video-hosting social media platform owned by the Chinese company ByteDance, on government devices over security concerns.
Earlier this month, the Joe Biden administration gave orders to all government agency staff to delete TikTok from federal devices and systems within 30 days over data security concerns. The U.S. federal government is reportedly worried about the site’s ability to hoover up sensitive user data of the government.
On Thursday, Oliver Dowden, a British politician who is serving as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Secretary of State for the Cabinet Office, announced plans to ban TikTok on government corporate devices.
Cabinet Office minister Oliver Dowden said in a press statement, “We are banning this app on government devices. The use of other data-extracting apps will be kept under review.”
Earlier, the European Commission also banned employees from installing TikTok on corporate devices, citing security concerns. It expressed concern that the data from TikTok could be sent to Chinese authorities.
New Zealand also announced plans to ban TikTok on government corporate devices over cybersecurity concerns. New Zealand expressed concern over the Chinese government’s potential to access users’ contact data through ByteDance. Parliamentary Service Chief Executive Rafael Gonzalez-Montero said the decision was taken over cybersecurity concerns.
Canada also asked its government officials not to use the TikTok app over security reasons. Taiwan and Afghanistan have also banned the popular app.
According to the US FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation) and Federal Communications Commission, Bytedance could share the users’ data with the Chinese authorities.
TikTok told the Wall Street Journal that the Committee on Foreign Investment in the US (Cfius) asked the social media company’s Chinese owners, ByteDance, to sell their stakes. The US also threatened to ban TikTok in the country.
In a recent interview with LBCI news channel of Lebanon former MP Fares Souaid warned about growing military tensions in… Read More
According to the UAE’s state news agency this week two shipments of aid from the UAE entered Gaza through the… Read More
Current world no. 1, Jannik Sinner is also planning to play in the ATP Finals in Turin between the 10th… Read More
USA Today reported that Prince William said that this past year was ‘probably the hardest’ of his life due to… Read More
In a collaborative humanitarian mission with the World Health Organization the Gulf nation UAE evacuated 86 critically injured patients from… Read More
Southern California Edison the main electric provider in the region intentionally cut power to nearly 70,000 customers overnight as a… Read More
This website uses cookies.
Read More