This week, the UK authorities banned officials from using the TikTok social network on official mobile devices. The move echoes last year’s decisions by the US authorities, with members of the European Commission instructed to remove the TikTok app from their devices by March 15. Now the French authorities are preparing similar requirements, according to unofficial data.
Image Source: Brent Lewin, Bloomberg
According to Bloomberg, French cabinet ministers will have to get rid of TikTok and other “unreliable” applications on personal devices. The country’s authorities fear that social networks and mobile applications of foreign origin may be used by intelligence agencies of other states to gain access to sensitive information relating to the activities of high-ranking officials. Social media apps have already been banned from use by French ministers on official devices, and now the restrictions will also apply to personal devices.
French authorities said earlier this month that the ministers’ official mobile phones are technically unable to install TikTok or other social media apps. As you know, the US authorities insist on a complete ban on TikTok in their jurisdiction if the Chinese shareholders of this social network do not give up their shares in the capital of the parent company ByteDance. According to some estimates, Chinese citizens may own from 20 to 40% of the shares, and US officials believe that through this line, Chinese intelligence agencies can force TikTok owners to establish surveillance of US citizens and political figures. Restrictions on the use of TikTok on official devices are already in place in the US, UK, Belgium, Canada and at the European Commission level.
New Zealand authorities will ban the use of TikTok on all devices connected to the local parliament’s corporate network until the end of March. At the same time, employees who need access to social networks for the performance of official activities will be able to obtain special permission.
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