Due to security concerns, New Zealand announced that TikTok will no longer be allowed on devices with access to the country’s parliamentary network.
This makes it the most recent country to restrict the use of the video-sharing app on equipment used for official business.
Global worries have grown over the possibility that ByteDance, TikTok’s Chinese parent company, could give the Chinese government access to users’ contact information and location information.
This week, the Biden administration demanded that TikTok’s Chinese owners sell their shares or risk having the app banned in the US, underscoring the seriousness of those worries.
TikTok Will be Banned by the End of March
By the end of March, all devices in New Zealand with network access to the parliament will be prohibited from using TikTok.
Rafael Gonzalez-Montero, the chief executive of the Parliamentary Service, explained in an email to Reuters that the choice was made following consultations with cybersecurity professionals, discussions within the government, and consultations with other nations.
“Based on this information the Service has determined that the risks are not acceptable in the current New Zealand Parliamentary environment,” he said.
For those who need the app to perform their jobs, special accommodations can be made, he continued.
A request for comment from Reuters was not immediately answered by ByteDance.
The app was immediately prohibited from being used on government phones in Britain on Thursday. The app must be removed from official devices by the end of March for US government organizations.
TikTok has stated that it thinks the recent bans are driven by “broader geopolitics and fundamental misconceptions,” adding that it has invested more than $1.5 billion in strict data security measures and denies claims of spying.
To read our blog on “TikTok is prohibited on official devices by the U.S. House administration arm,” click here.
