Canada Bans ByteDance’s TikTok from Government Devices

The Canadian government has decide to ban the use of the TikTok app on all mobile devices belonging to its employees starting next week, citing security concerns regarding the link between the app’s developer and the Chinese authorities.

A wave of bans is hitting TikTok from multiple governments worldwide, including the United States and The European Union, due to serious concerns regarding TikTok’s policy on data gathering and its interactions with the Chinese government.

TikTok is made by a company named ByteDance, which has repeatedly assured authorities in multiple countries that nothing untoward is happening behind the scenes. Assurances, though, are not enough.

“Following a review of TikTok, the Chief Information Officer of Canada determined that it presents an unacceptable level of risk to privacy and security,” said Mona Fortier, president of the Treasury Board Secretariat, according to HRReporter.

“The decision to remove and block TikTok from government mobile devices is being taken as a precaution, particularly given concerns about the legal regime that governs the information collected from mobile devices, and is in line with the approach of our international partners. On a mobile device, TikTok’s data collection methods provide considerable access to the contents of the phone,” she added.

The Canadian authorities only acknowledged the potential dangers the app might pose, but said they found no evidence that the app has actually been compromised.

The European Union took it a step further and banned the use of TikTok on work and personal devices as well, for all government employees. Many countries within the EU are also considering taking the same types of actions very soon.