CNN
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Australia has joined different Western international locations in banning the usage of TikTok on authorities units because the Chinese language-owned video app comes below growing stress over claims it presents a safety concern.
Lawyer-Common 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 choice places Australia according to its allies from the 5 Eyes intelligence alliance – the US, Britain and Canada have already introduced related restrictions, whereas New Zealand’s parliament additionally ordered the app be faraway from all units with entry to the legislature.
Norway and the European Parliament have made related strikes, and final week NATO banned staffers from downloading the app onto NATO-provided units, based on two NATO officers aware of the matter.
Thus far, there’s no proof the Chinese language authorities has accessed TikTok person knowledge, and no authorities has enacted a broader ban focusing on TikTok on private units.
Nonetheless, the Biden administration has threatened to try this in the USA except the app’s Chinese language house owners, Bytedance, comply with spin off their share of the social media platform.
The US authorities is frightened China might use its nationwide safety legal guidelines to entry the numerous quantity of non-public data that TikTok, like most social media purposes, collects from its US customers.
Throughout a excessive profile congressional listening to on the matter, TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew was grilled concerning the tech agency’s alleged ties to the Chinese language authorities.
Chew has mentioned the Chinese language authorities 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 could “firmly oppose” any choice ensuing within the compelled sale of TikTok, including that it could “significantly injury” world traders’ confidence in the USA.
