The Australian government has announced its decision to ban TikTok from being used on government-owned smartphones due to concerns over national security. The move comes after similar decisions were made by the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and New Zealand. Australia is the last member of the Five Eyes intelligence partnership to implement the ban.
Mark Dreyfus, the attorney general, stated that the ban would come into force “as soon as practicable.” However, individual exemptions will be granted on a case-by-case basis. The decision followed advice from intelligence and security agencies. Cybersecurity experts have warned that the app, which boasts over one billion global users, could be used to hoover up data that is then shared with the Chinese government.
The app may still be used on personal devices by those who were affected by the ban. TikTok’s general manager in Australia, Lee Hunter, expressed disappointment with the decision, which, in their view, was driven by politics.
James Paterson, the shadow minister for cybersecurity, has cautioned that Australian user data on the app may be accessible by Chinese authorities because the corporation is bound by the country’s national intelligence regulations and must accede to Beijing’s requests for data. TikTok has frequently stated that it has never received a request of this nature and would decline to share Australian user data if contacted.
China condemned the ban, saying it had “lodged stern representations” with Canberra over the move and urging Australia to “provide Chinese companies with a fair, transparent and non-discriminatory business environment.” However, Fergus Ryan, an analyst with the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, said stripping TikTok from government devices was a “no-brainer.”
The security concerns are underpinned by a 2017 Chinese law that requires local firms to hand over personal data to the state if it is relevant to national security. Beijing has denied these reforms pose a threat to ordinary users. TikTok has said such bans are “rooted in xenophobia” while insisting that it is not owned or operated by the Chinese government.
The company’s Australian spokesman, Lee Hunter, said it would “never” give data to the Chinese government. But the firm acknowledged in November that some employees in China could access European user data, and in December, it said employees had used the data to spy on journalists. The app is typically used to share short, lighthearted videos and has exploded in popularity in recent years. Many government departments were initially eager to use TikTok as a way to connect with a younger demographic that is harder to reach through traditional media channels.
In conclusion, Australia’s ban on TikTok highlights the concerns surrounding data privacy and national security. The decision to ban TikTok on government-owned smartphones follows similar actions taken by other countries around the world. Despite the company’s claims that it would never give data to the Chinese government, cybersecurity experts remain cautious about the app’s data-sharing practices. The ban may impact TikTok’s user base in Australia, but the app may still be used on personal devices. The move also underscores the growing debate around how to balance personal privacy and national security in the age of technology.
