Image source：China Visual

BEIJING, February 25 (TMTPOST) -- The European Commission (EC) has banned the use of Chinese-owned social media app TikTok on its official devices and personal devices with EC work-related applications, citing  cybersecurity concerns.

The decision was communicated to staff members via email on Thursday, requesting them to uninstall TikTok by March 15. Those who do not comply by the deadline will no longer have access to the work app on relevant devices. The commission, the executive of the European Union, claimed that the ban is designed to protect itself from cybersecurity threats and possible cyberattacks, and that it will continuously assess the security of other social media platforms.

The ban on TikTok, a video-sharing app owned by Beijing-based ByteDance, is the first time for the EU agency to stop its staff members from using an app. Although the commission declined to disclose information that led them to conclude that the app posed a significant cybersecurity and data risk, they said that the decision was the result of careful analysis.

According to AFP, the European Parliament said on Thursday that it was “monitoring and assessing all possible data breaches related to the app” and would consider the European Commission’s assessment before making a recommendation.

A TikTok spokesperson has responded to the EC’s decision, expressing disappointment and stating that the company believes the decision is misguided and based on a fundamental misunderstanding. TikTok has engaged in several rounds of communication with the EU on cybersecurity issues, promising to continue removing harmful content and false information and to publicly report on all action steps it takes. To reduce concerns about TikTok in EU member countries, the company has also announced that it is considering opening two more data centers in Europe to store local user information.

Prior to the EC’s decision, the U.S. already prohibited the use of TikTok on all federal government devices last December. Several state governments have since passed full or partial bans on the app, citing concerns about the app’s handling of user data.

Meanwhile, the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada has issued a statement saying that it will work with provincial privacy authorities of Quebec, British Columbia, and Alberta to investigate TikTok’s compliance with Canadian privacy laws. The joint probe will focus on whether TikTok has obtained valid and meaningful consent for the collection, use, and disclosure of personal information, and whether TikTok has met its transparency obligations when collecting personal information from its users. The statement emphasized that the protection of children’s privacy was a top priority, and the investigation will focus specifically on TikTok’s privacy practices in relation to young users.

The recent ban of TikTok on European Commission’s official devices highlights the growing concerns around cybersecurity and data privacy in the digital age. With more people relying on digital platforms and social media apps for work, communication, and entertainment, the risks of cyberattacks and data breaches have become increasingly prevalent. 

TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew is expected to testify before U.S. Congress in March about privacy concerns and other issues.