Belgium Bans Government from Using TikTok on Work Phones
- Ist
VIVA – Belgium banned government employees from using TikTok on their work phones amid concerns about cybersecurity, privacy, and misinformation, Belgian Prime Minister, Alexander De Croo stated on a post, Friday.
The Chinese-owned video-sharing app will be temporarily banned from devices owned or paid for by the Belgian federal government for at least six months.
TikTok expressed disappointment with the suspension, which was based on fundamental misinformation about their company. The company said, "We are willing to meet with relevant officials to address any concerns and clear up any misunderstandings," TikTok authorities said.
TikTok, which is owned by Chinese tech firm ByteDance, this week launched a European charm offensive and promised changes to its data protection policies to alleviate concerns around its use. The company has denied posing a security risk.
Perdana Menteri (PM) Belgia, Alexander de Croo
- AP Photo/Virginia Mayo
Belgian government officials using personal phones won't face hard restrictions but authorities still recommended them not to install TikTok. The National Security Council also urged regional and local governments to issue a “similar” ban and asks the Belgian data protection authority to investigate TikTok’s privacy policy.
The dispute over TikTok is part of a wider global competition between China and the United States and its Western allies over technological and economic supremacy.
De Croo said Belgium's ban was based on warnings from the country's security services and its cybersecurity center, which said the app could take user data and alter algorithms to manipulate its news feed and content. TikTok could be forced to spy for Beijing without being more specific.
"We are in a new geopolitical context where influence and surveillance between states have shifted to the digital world," de Croo said.
"We can’t be naive: TikTok is a Chinese company that currently is mandated to cooperate with Chinese intelligence services. This is the reality. Banning its use on federal service devices makes sense," he concluded.