The Chinese-owned social media app TikTok is facing heightened scrutiny in Washington over security concerns. The White House is giving all federal agencies 30 days to remove TikTok from all government devices. The Office of Management and Budget has issued guidance calling on federal agencies to follow suit and eliminate the app, citing its potential risk to sensitive government data. Some agencies, such as the Departments of Defense, Homeland Security, and State, have already implemented restrictions.
The “No TikTok on Government Devices Act” was passed by Congress in December, allowing TikTok use in certain cases, including national security, law enforcement, and research purposes. However, the increasing concern is that Beijing could gain control of American user data.
Canada’s ban on video app TikTok from all government-issued devices starting on Tuesday
Canada has also banned TikTok from all government-issued mobile devices, and the European Union’s executive branch has temporarily banned TikTok from phones used by employees as a cybersecurity measure. Despite the ban, TikTok remains extremely popular in the US, used by two-thirds of teens, and the company has expressed that it is developing security and data privacy plans as part of the Biden administration’s national security review.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced on Monday that the government will remove TikTok from government-issued phones and block downloads of the app due to security concerns. The move comes as Canadian privacy regulators investigate TikTok over concerns about user data, particularly around whether the company obtains “valid and meaningful” consent from users when collecting personal information. About a quarter of Canadian adults use the app, according to a recent survey.
Mona Fortier, the president of Canada’s Treasury Board, said the government “is committed to keeping government information secure.” The ban will begin with the removal of the app from government-issued phones this week and will be extended to other devices in the future. Ms Fortier also noted that while there is no evidence of government information being compromised, TikTok’s data collection methods on mobile devices provide considerable access to the contents of the phone.
TikTok’s response
According to a spokesperson for the company, the ban on TikTok from government-issued devices was implemented without any prior discussion or specific security concerns being raised to them.
“We are always willing to meet with government officials to discuss how we can protect the privacy and security of Canadians. Singling out TikTok in this manner does not further our shared objective,” the spokesperson stated.
“Rather, it merely hinders officials from accessing a platform adored by millions of Canadians to reach the public.”
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Author: Associated Press
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Author: Mike Wendling