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This article will cover the latest information on announcement made by the Canadian government regarding their decision to ban the popular video-sharing app, TikTok, from all government-issued mobile devices.
The decision comes amid growing concerns over the Chinese-owned app’s ties to the Chinese government and its potential risks to privacy and security.
Key Takeaways:
- Canadian government bans TikTok from all government-issued mobile devices
- Decision comes amid growing concerns over the app’s ties to the Chinese government and its potential risks to privacy and security
- EU and US have also taken similar measures
- TikTok faces increasing scrutiny over security and data privacy concerns
- TikTok spokesperson expresses disappointment over the decision
The Ban and Future Measures
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the ban on Monday, Feb. 27, 2023, stating that this action is the first step towards further measures.
He expressed his belief that the Canadian government’s prohibition of federal employees from using TikTok on their work phones will prompt Canadians from businesses to private individuals to reflect on their data security and make better choices.
Mona Fortier, the Canadian Treasury Board President, announced that the country’s Chief Information Officer had assessed TikTok and found it to pose a significant threat to privacy and security.
As a result, the government will prohibit the app from being downloaded on official devices and will remove it from government-issued phones starting next Tuesday.
Similar Measures in the EU and US
The European Union’s executive branch recently implemented a temporary ban on TikTok for employee phone use to guarantee cybersecurity. Additionally, over half of the US states and Congress have banned the app from government-issued devices.
Concerns Over Ties to Chinese Government
Western officials are worried that TikTok, which is owned by the Chinese company ByteDance, could be used by Beijing to collect data on Western users or spread false information and pro-China narratives. Despite these concerns, the app remains popular among young people.
Increasing Scrutiny Over Security and Data Privacy Concerns
TikTok is under growing examination from European and American officials due to concerns over security and privacy of user data. There are fears that the app may be utilized to spread pro-China messages or collect private information of users. This issue arises as China and the West are in a wider tug of war over technology, ranging from spy balloons to computer chips.
Response from TikTok
The company is disappointed by the Canadian government’s decision to ban TikTok from government-issued devices. According to a spokesperson for TikTok, criticizing only TikTok will not help accomplish the objective, and they are open to discussing Canadians’ privacy and security issues at any time.
The Ban’s Impact
While the Canadian government’s decision will remove TikTok from government-issued phones, the app remains popular among private individuals and businesses in Canada.
