how many countries have banned tiktok

How many countries have banned TikTok?

TikTok, a short-form video-hosting social media application owned by the Chinese company ByteDance, has been in the limelight in recent days. Many experts have expressed concern over TikTok’s data security.

Many countries have banned TikTok completely, while other countries banned the popular app from parliament devices. Recently, the Scottish Parliament advised federal staff to remove TikTok from the devices.

These countries have banned TikTok

India

India banned TikTok in 2020 over national security concerns. When 20 Indian soldiers were killed in a confrontation with Chinese soldiers along their disputed Himalayan border in 2020, Indian authorities said that TikTok was an “unacceptable” risk to privacy and security.

Taiwan

In 2022, Taiwan banned the use of TikTok in the public sector. Taiwan banned government departments from using Chinese apps, including TikTok because it is owned by the Chinese company ByteDance.

United States

The Joe Biden administration in the United States also gave orders to all government agency staff to delete TikTok from federal devices and systems over data security concerns. According to the U.S. federal government, TikTok has the ability to send sensitive user data of the government to the Chinese authorities.

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United Kingdom

The United Kingdom also banned TikTok on government corporate devices. Oliver Dowden, a British politician who is serving as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Secretary of State for the Cabinet Office, said that the data from TikTok could be sent to Chinese authorities. 

New Zealand

New Zealand banned the social media app TikTok on government corporate devices over cybersecurity concerns. Parliamentary Service Chief Executive Rafael Gonzalez-Montero expressed concern over the Chinese authorities’ potential to access sensitive data through the popular social media app.

Canada

Canada banned the popular app on government devices. The authorities of Canada said that all federal employees can no longer use TikTok on their phones. Canada also directed its government officials not to use TikTok.

These countries have banned TikTok.