The New Zealand government has announced plans to ban the popular video-sharing app, TikTok, from all its government devices. The decision comes amid mounting concerns about the security of the app, which is owned by the Chinese tech giant, ByteDance.
The ban, which will come into effect on March 1, 2021, will apply to all government agencies, departments, and organisations. The government has cited security concerns as the main reason for the ban, citing the potential for private user data to be shared with the Chinese government, and other security risks associated with the app.
In a statement, the New Zealand government said, “The Government takes the security of its systems and data seriously and has determined that the security risks associated with TikTok outweigh the potential benefits.”
TikTok has become increasingly popular in recent years, especially among younger users. However, the app has been criticized for its lax security protocols and its alleged links to the Chinese government.
The ban is the latest in a series of measures implemented by governments around the world to limit the use of Chinese-owned apps, including Huawei, WeChat, and Zoom.