Spy in your phone. TikTok ban is gaining momentum worldwide

Countries are forcing government officials to completely delete the TikTok app from all computers and smartphones.

Last month, the United States, Canada, the European Commission, and the European Parliament banned the use of the TikTok app on all government devices. Government employees have 30 days to remove the Chinese service from their phones and computers.

Western governments are increasingly receiving evidence that Chinese technology companies are helping the Communist Party and its intelligence services collect personal data worldwide through TikTok.

The ban on the use of the service on government devices in the United States comes from the Director of the White House Office of Management and Budget, Shalanda Young. On Monday, a notice was issued to US government officials recommending that TikTok be removed from all devices in government structures within 30 days, and the installation of the service is prohibited.

Chairman of the Republican Committee Michael McCaul called TikTok “Spy balloon in your phone”, referring to the Chinese spy balloon shot down off the coast of South Carolina. “Anyone who has TikTok downloaded on their device has given the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) a backdoor to their personal information,” McCaul said.

The House Committee on Foreign Affairs voted to authorize President Joe Biden to completely ban TikTok in the United States. It should be noted that Democrats opposed the bill, saying it was rushed and requires due diligence through discussion and consultation with experts.

The Canadian government said the decision to delete and block TikTok on state mobile devices was a preventive measure. According to the Canadian Cybersecurity Center, TikTok’s data collection methods provide significant access to the phone itself.

The European Parliament, along with the European Commission and the Council of the EU, has also banned the use of TikTok on official devices and recommended that Members of the European Parliament uninstall the app from their personal phones. Around 8,000 employees of the institution had been required to remove the Chinese service from corporate devices by March 20.

“In connection with the use of the social media platform TikTok, concerns have arisen regarding cybersecurity, in particular regarding the protection of data and the collection of data by third parties,” reads an email to MEPs.