Image Credit: BBC
Canada joined the list of countries banning the use of video-sharing app TikTok on government-issued devices due to security concerns. The decision comes after a review by Canada’s chief information officer found that the app “presents an unacceptable level of risk to privacy and security.” A TikTok spokesperson expressed disappointment with the decision and pointed out that the company had not been contacted by the Canadian government to discuss specific security concerns.
TikTok has been criticized for its use of personal information and ties to the Chinese government, as the app is owned by Chinese firm ByteDance Ltd. The company has repeatedly denied that Chinese government officials have access to user data and stated that a Chinese version of the app is separate from the one used in the rest of the world. However, last year, the company admitted that some staff in China can access the data of European users.
In addition to Canada, the European Commission recently announced a similar ban on TikTok for its employees, and US federal employees were banned from using the app late last year. The White House has also given government agencies 30 days to remove the app from their systems. Several American universities have banned the app from being used on their networks, and broader public bans have been implemented in India and several other Asian countries.
Canadian privacy regulators are also investigating TikTok over concerns about user data and 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 by researchers at the Social Media Lab at Toronto Metropolitan University.
The app will be removed from government-issued phones this week and other devices and blocked from downloads in the future. While the risks of using the app are clear, the Canadian government stated that it has no evidence at this point that government information has been compromised. The Treasury Board, which oversees the operations of the federal government, includes the country's chief information officer and is committed to keeping government information secure.
In conclusion, while TikTok remains popular among millions of Canadians, it seems that its use on government-issued devices and networks is becoming increasingly restricted due to security concerns. As more countries and organizations scrutinize the app’s data privacy and security practices, TikTok may need to address these concerns in order to maintain its user base and avoid further bans.
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