Australia bans TikTok on federal government devices

CNN
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Australia has joined different Western nations in banning using TikTok on government devices because the Chinese-owned video app comes below rising strain over claims it presents a safety concern.

Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus introduced the ban on Tuesday after receiving recommendation from intelligence and safety businesses, saying the directive could be imposed “as quickly as practicable.”

The determination places Australia in keeping with its allies from the Five Eyes intelligence alliance – the US, Britain and Canada have already introduced comparable restrictions, whereas New Zealand’s parliament additionally ordered the app be faraway from all devices with entry to the legislature.

Norway and the European Parliament have made comparable strikes, and final week NATO banned staffers from downloading the app onto NATO-provided devices, based on two NATO officers acquainted with the matter.

So far, there’s no proof the Chinese government has accessed TikTok consumer knowledge, and no government has enacted a broader ban focusing on TikTok on private devices.

However, the Biden administration has threatened to do this within the United States except the app’s Chinese house owners, Bytedance, comply with spin off their share of the social media platform.

The US government is frightened China might use its nationwide safety legal guidelines to entry the numerous quantity of private data that TikTok, like most social media purposes, collects from its US customers.

During a excessive profile congressional listening to on the matter, TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew was grilled in regards to the tech agency’s alleged ties to the Chinese government.

Chew has mentioned the Chinese government had by no means requested TikTok for its knowledge and that the corporate would refuse any such request.

For its half, China’s Commerce Ministry mentioned it will “firmly oppose” any determination ensuing within the compelled sale of TikTok, including that it will “significantly injury” world buyers’ confidence within the United States.