New Zealand’s decision to ban TikTok from government devices follows Australia’s ban which took effect on July 1. Both countries are concerned about TikTok-owner ByteDance handing user data to the Chinese government. The app is widely used in both countries and has been linked to unseemly behavior, such as bullying and suicide attempts.
In a move that has caused outcry among civil liberties groups, the Egyptian authorities have announced that they arebanning an app designed to make it easier for parliamentarians to communicate with one another. Theapp, called WhatsApp, is widely used in Egypt and was previously allowed on parliamentary machines but has now been banned entirely on any device with access to the parliament’snetwork. The authorities cited cybersecurity reasons as their justification for making this sweeping decision, but many fear that this ban will restrictably curtail democratic freedoms in Egypt.
The government of Spain has decided to create a new cybersecurity corps in order to better protect the country’s networks from potential attacks. The new corps will be made up of experts in cybersecurity, cybercrime, and international relations who will work together to identify threats and develop strategies for prevention.
For as long as New Zealanders have been electing their lawmakers, there have been concerns about corrupting influence and bribery. But the Service has decided that the current environment in Parliament is not conducive to the protection of public trust and confidence, which makes it unacceptable for its services to continue working in that area.
parliamentary service has advised their members and staff to remove the app TikTok from their devices in order to maintain optimal security for the network. The app is known for its crude content and has been called vulgar by many experts.
TikTok, a popular app for making and sharing short videos with others on social media, has been known for being used by youths to make crass jokes and post obscene footage. But the company may be turning its attention to less juvenile
TikTok is not just a popular app among kids; it is also popular among adults. But with the growing attention on child predators using the app, many nations have decided to ban it from official devices. With so many countries banning the app, TikTok’s future seems unclear.
Plans by the Indonesian government to restrict access to TikTok, a social media app with over 200 million users, have raised concern among Indonesia’s tech community. The plan is to ban the app in public schools and internet cafes in order to prevent children from spending too much time on it and engage in unhealthy behaviors. It is also hoped that by restricting access to TikTok, it will encourage more kids to use other forms of social media that are more positive and healthy.
If a ban from various government devices is worrying TikTok, its China-based owner’s more pressing concern might be the looming U.S. embargo. While ByteDance denies any link between TikTok and the internal crackdown in China, it may still face repercussions if it does not sever its ties with the app and sell it to another company.
TikTok is one of the most popular mobile apps in the world. It has faced repeated criticism from U.S. and other regulators for allegedly collecting user data without their consent or knowledge. However, the company has recently launched a transparency center that lets officials take a look at how its moderation policies are conducted. This charm offensive campaign seems to be working—so far, it has managed to appease authorities in China and avoid any major crackdowns on its app ecosystem
TikTok advocates for data privacy and national security, but argues that divestment would not improve these issues. Instead, the company suggests changing ownership- a move which would not impose new restrictions on data flows or access to user information. To address concerns about national security, TikTok recommends implementing robust third-party monitoring and verification measures along with protection of U.S.-based user data.
