Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Social Media

Australia bans TikTok on official devices after New Zealand.

The logo of Chinese-owned video app TikTok is seen on a smartphone in front of an image of the Australian national flag in this illustration picture taken April 4, 2023. REUTERS/Tingshu Wang/Illustration

Today, Australia banned TikTok on official devices. Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus said the ban will take effect “as soon as practical.”

Dreyfus announced the decision “after obtaining recommendations from intelligence and security authorities.”

Australia also updated its Preventive Security Policy Framework (PSPF) because TikTok’s data-gathering activities constitute a security risk.

“TikTok poses serious security and privacy concerns to non-corporate Commonwealth entities deriving from a large collection of user data and exposure to extrajudicial orders from a foreign government that clashes with Australian law,” the directive added.

The authorities will allow the brief video app for “legitimate business reasons” on a “standalone device.”

Australia, New Zealand, the US, the UK, and Canada have all banned TikTok on government devices, as has Australia. The EU and Belgium have also banned the ByteDance-owned software on police smartphones.

TikTok condemned the Australian government’s politically driven action.

We are really upset by this political choice. We are also concerned that TikTok and the millions of Australians who use it were left to hear about this decision through the media, despite our repeated efforts to actively engage with the government about this policy.”

Again, TikTok poses no security concern to Australians and should not be handled differently from other social media sites. “Our millions of Australian customers deserve a government that takes decisions based on facts and treats all businesses fairly, regardless of nation of origin,” said Lee Hunter, General Manager, TikTok Australia, and New Zealand.

TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew gave a five-hour congressional testimony last month. Chew assured legislators that Chinese officials don’t have access to U.S. users’ data in the session.

He declared, “ByteDance is not an agency of China or any other country.”

ByteDance must sell TikTok US or be embargoed by the Biden administration. Under “Project Texas,” TikTok is spending $1.5 billion to reassure U.S. authorities about data openness.

Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

The future of technological innovation is here. Be the first to discover the latest advancements, insights, and reviews. Join us in shaping the future.
SUBSCRIBE

You May Also Like

TECH

What distinguishes open-source software from proprietary software? See the pros and cons of this tech favorite. Pros: Open-source software is usually free or low-cost...

AI

Are you ready to enter a world of limitless possibilities? Artificial Intelligence is here, and it's changing the game. From improved healthcare to increased...

Crypto

Learn the basics of blockchain technology and how it is revolutionizing the world of cryptocurrency. Discover why blockchain is driving decentralization and security.  ...

AI

Discover NLP and AI technology's latest advancements and applications in language processing. Learn how NLP and AI are transforming various industries. Explore the benefits...