The ban of TikTok on government devices is now being implemented in Canada. The move swiftly follows the U.S. and European Union’s executive branch taking similar actions to mitigate possible infiltration of sensitive government information.
“I suspect that as government takes the significant step of telling all federal employees that they can no longer use TikTok on their work phones, many Canadians from business to private individuals will reflect in the security of their own data and perhaps make choices,” Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said.
Owned by ByteDance Ltd., the Chinese company based in Singapore is one of the most popular apps for 13-19 year olds. However, there is increasing concern that user data could possibly be mined, invading data privacy. The Biden Administration has ordered for TikTok to be removed on all federal devices in the next 30 days.
“The Biden-Harris Administration has invested heavily in defending our nation’s digital infrastructure and curbing foreign adversaries’ access to Americans’ data,” a statement reads from Chris DeRusha, U.S. Chief Information Security Officer. “This guidance is a part of the Administration’s ongoing commitment to securing our digital infrastructure and protecting the American people’s security and privacy.”
U.S. Congress first banned the social media app in December 2022 via the “No TikTok on Government Devices Act.” The House is considering extending the ban nationwide amid concerns about national security, especially with the recent spy ballon fiasco, in which mysterious balloons crossed into U.S. territory.
“The ban of TikTok on federal devices passed in December without any deliberation, and unfortunately that approach has served as a blueprint for other world governments,” Brooke Oberwetter, a TikTok spokesperson, said. “These bans are little more than political theater.”
