SYDNEY – Australia has become the latest addition to the growing list of nations that have decided to ban the use of TikTok on government devices. The ban was initiated due to security concerns and follows close scrutiny of the Chinese-owned app. It is feared that the app could be used by the Chinese government to collect sensitive data or even spy on users.
The exact date of the ban has not been announced, but Australia’s Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus has confirmed that it will be implemented “as soon as practicable.” With this move, Australia becomes the last member of the “Five Eyes” intelligence alliance, which includes the United States, Canada, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom, to ban TikTok on government devices. NATO and other European countries, including Norway, have also followed suit. In recent times, TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew testified before the US Congress on the matter.
TikTok has denied any claims that the app poses a threat to users’ security and privacy, and the company has reassured users that their data will never be shared with the Chinese government.
