TikTok, the popular Chinese social media app, has been banned in several countries due to security concerns. Government employees in the US, Canada and the EU must delete the app from their work phones, as TikTok can pose a security risk to privacy and security.

Suspicion: The state is listening in

TikTok's collection methods could enable the Chinese state to gain access to government information. Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that banning Tik Tok on work cell phones is an important measure to ensure the safety of Canadians.

The EU Commission has also announced that it will ban TikTok on work cell phones. The app must also be removed from private devices used by EU officials by March 15. In Germany, the app has already been banned on the cell phones of federal civil servants for some time, while Italy may follow suit. TikTok has also already been banned on the cell phones of civil servants in other countries, such as India and Bangladesh, due to security concerns.

Bytedance Group

TikTok belongs to the Chinese Bytedance Group and is mainly used by young people. However, the app has quickly gained popularity in Western countries. There have long been concerns that the data is not secure and that the Chinese state could access it. However, TikTok has always rejected these allegations.

Government agencies in the US and Canada are giving their employees 30 days to ensure that TikTok is removed from government cell phones and other devices. The download of the app will be blocked on government devices and the apps already downloaded must be removed.