TikTok is facing increasing limits and bans on a global scale.
In the U.S., a looming ban and a recent congressional hearing with TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew has made many a headline. Beyond, across North America, Europe and Asia, several countries have implemented some level of restriction on the the app, largely over privacy and cybersecurity concerns connected to its parent company ByteDance, which has ties to the Chinese government. International government bodies including the European Commission and NATO have banned staff from using TikTok on their corporate phones, as have federal governments in countries across the globe.
Here are the countries that have invoked partial or total bans on the app.
Afghanistan
The Taliban banned TikTok in Afghanistan in April 2022, saying that the platform’s content “was not consistent with Islamic laws”, according to Bloomberg.
Australia
On April 4, Australia banned the app from all federal government-owned devices, citing security concerns raised by the the Department of Home Affairs. Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus said the ban would be imposed “as soon as practicable”.
Belgium
Belgium banned TikTok from the work phones of government officials. Prime Minister Alexander De Croo said in a statement to Politico, “We can’t be naive: TikTok is a Chinese company that currently is mandated to cooperate with Chinese intelligence services.”
Canada
Mirroring other countries, Canada banned TikTok from all government mobile devices in February of this year. Mona Fortier, President of the Treasury Board, said the partial ban is due to the app presenting “an unacceptable level of risk to privacy and security.”
“The decision to remove and block TikTok from government mobile devices is being taken as a precaution, particularly given concerns about the legal regime that governs the information collected from mobile devices, and is in line with the approach of our international partners,” she said in a statement.
Denmark
Denmark’s Defense Ministry banned employees from having TikTok downloaded on their work devices in March. Again related to security considerations assessed by the country’s Center for Cyber Security, staffers were told to remove the app as soon as possible.
India
India made moves against TikTok in 2020, implementing a nationwide ban on TikTok and 58 other Chinese apps, for “[engaging] in activities which is prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, security of state and public order.” The government put the ban in place after a deadly border clash between Indian and Chinese military forces. India is the largest country to place a blanket ban on the app.
The Netherlands
While not an outright ban, Dutch officials have been told not to use TikTok. The recommendation is in line with several other government service bodies, but is being less monitored in the Netherlands, a spokesperson for the general affairs ministry told Politico.
New Zealand
Following several European countries making similar decisions, New Zealand’s parliament announced a ban on TikTok on all staff devices.
“This decision has been made based on our own experts’ analysis and following discussion with our colleagues across government and internationally,” read the government’s statement made by parliamentary service chief executive Rafael Gonzalez-Montero. “Based on this information the Service has determined that the risks are not acceptable in the current New Zealand Parliamentary environment.”
Norway
The Norwegian Parliament banned TikTok on governmental devices in March, though allowing civil servants to use the app on professional grounds on their personal devices. The country’s justice minister Emilie Enger Mehl said in a statement, “The Norwegian intelligence services single out Russia and China as the main risk factors for Norway’s security interests.” Mehl experienced her fair share of scrutiny over having TikTok on her work phone albeit before the ban.
Taiwan
Government devices in Taiwan were banned from using Chinese-made software, including TikTok, in December 2022.
United Kingdom
British government ministers have been banned from using TikTok on work phones and devices, following reviews by the UK’s National Cyber Security Centre. Cabinet office minister Oliver Dowden explained in a statement that the government’s decision “is in line with similar restrictions brought in by key international partners”, citing the U.S. and Canadian governments and the European Commission.
“Given the potentially sensitive nature of information which is stored on government devices, government policy on the management of third party applications will be strengthened and a precautionary ban on TikTok on government devices is being introduced,” the statement read.
United States
In short, it’s complicated. In March, the U.S. demanded that Bytedance sell TikTok or face a total ban in the country. The U.S. has never placed a nationwide restriction on an app, but is debating now whether to do so for TikTok. Federal agencies are being asked to delete the app from staff phones, and the White House already doesn’t allow TikTok on devices. CEO Shou Zi Chew recently provided testimony in Congress, defending the app and bringing up “Project Texas”, the company’s initiative to protect user data in the States. The future of TikTok in America remains in question.
Here’s everything you need to know about the possibility of a U.S. ban of TikTok.
