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The Czech cyber security watchdog, NUKIB, issued a warning on Wednesday against using TikTok due to potential security risks associated with the app.
In this article, we’ll delve into the growing concerns surrounding the Chinese-owned social media app, TikTok.
Key Takeaways:
- NUKIB warns against using TikTok due to security concerns related to user data collection and Chinese jurisdiction over the app’s parent company, ByteDance.
- NUKIB recommends that TikTok not be installed on phones accessing critical infrastructure and advises politicians and officials to avoid using it.
- TikTok is banned on staff phones at the European Parliament, European Commission, and EU Council, as well as for government employees in the US, Canada, and Denmark.
- The Czech government has not yet implemented a TikTok ban, but its national intelligence agency warns of Chinese cyber threats to Czech cyberspace.
NUKIB’s Warning and Recommendations
The Czech cyber security watchdog, NUKIB, suggested that people who access important systems should not install TikTok on their phones due to potential security risks.
NUKIB is concerned about the political and legal situation in China, as ByteDance, the company that owns TikTok, is subject to Chinese law.
The agency advised politicians and officials to avoid using the app, and suggested that the public think carefully before sharing content on TikTok. Despite NUKIB’s warning, TikTok did not provide a comment on the matter.
ByteDance’s Response to Concerns
ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, has previously dismissed concerns about the app as misinformation and denied using it for spying.
The Chinese government has also repeatedly denied any intention to use the app for espionage.
Restrictions on TikTok
TikTok’s use has been limited in several countries. Last month, the United States set a 30-day deadline to purge the app from federal devices and systems.
TikTok has been prohibited on phones belonging to staff members of the European Parliament, the European Commission, and the EU Council.
NUKIB’s warning about TikTok contributes to the increasing number of Western authorities that view the app as a potential security risk.
The main concern is that the Chinese government may have access to users’ sensitive information through the app.
NUKIB is worried about TikTok being used on devices that access important information and communication systems.
The agency is concerned about the large amount of user data that TikTok collects and the fact that the app is governed by Chinese law.
Government Bans
The US government has already prohibited its workers from installing the app, and lawmakers in the country have introduced a bill to ban TikTok altogether.Government employees in the European Union, Canada, and Denmark are not allowed to have TikTok on their phones.
However, the Czech government has not yet implemented a ban on the app.
The country’s national intelligence agency, BIS, singled out China as a major threat to Czech cyberspace in a report published last year.
The report warned of “Chinese technologies penetrating important networks of state infrastructures,” calling the situation “a major security threat.”
