EU Bans TikTok – TikTok, the popular Chinese video-sharing app, has been banned by the European Parliament from staff devices over cybersecurity concerns. This move follows a similar ban by the European Commission, meaning that the app is now barred in all three of the EU’s main institutions. The ban will take effect on 20 March 2023, and the parliament has “strongly recommended” that its members and staff remove the app from their personal devices.
Cybersecurity Concerns
The decision to ban TikTok from official devices was made “in view of cybersecurity concerns, in particular regarding data protection and collection of data by third parties,” according to a statement by the European Parliament. TikTok is owned by Beijing-based Byte Dance, and the ban is based on concerns that the app could pose a risk to the privacy and data security of EU users.
TikTok Responds
TikTok has responded to the ban, stating that it is “disappointing to see that other government bodies and institutions are banning TikTok on employee devices with no deliberation or evidence.” The company believes that the ban is based on “basic misinformation about our company,” and that it is willing to meet with officials to address any concerns. TikTok has also announced plans to open two new data centers in Europe.
Similar Scrutiny in the US and Canada
TikTok is facing similar scrutiny in the US, where federal agencies have been directed to remove the app from all government-issued devices within 30 days, with few exceptions. The Canadian government has also announced a ban on TikTok from official electronic devices.
Final Thoughts
As concerns over cybersecurity continue to grow, it is becoming increasingly common for governments and institutions to ban certain apps and devices. TikTok, which has over 1 billion active users worldwide, has been the subject of much scrutiny in recent months, with concerns raised about its ownership structure and data collection practices. While TikTok has defended itself against these concerns, it remains to be seen whether the app will be able to overcome the growing mistrust of its users and regulators alike.