Members of the Australian government are set to receive a formal ban on using the Chinese app TikTok on their work devices, joining a series of similar rulings in Western countries over Security concerns. Justice Minister Mark Dreyfuss said the decision was taken on the advice of Australia’s intelligence services, and would be implemented “as soon as possible”.
Australia is the latest country in the “Five Eyes” coalition to ban members of its government from TikTok, after the United States, Britain, Canada and New Zealand. Similar measures have been taken in France, the Netherlands and within the European Commission.
At the center of the concerns is a 2017 Chinese law that requires local companies to hand over responsibility when required by the authorities Personal data relevant to national security. TikTok said the ban was “rooted in xenophobia,” before acknowledging last December that they are Collecting personal data to spy on journalists.
The popularity of this short video sharing app has exploded in recent years, especially among the youth. Several Australian government departments have previously sought to increase their presence on TikTok to reach younger audiences.
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