EU Industry Chief Urges Removal of TikTok App from Staff Phones, Why?

The Chinese short video-sharing app TikTok has been ordered removed from corporate phones by the European Commission, which continues to place a strong emphasis on cybersecurity, Reuters reports.

Thierry Breton, the EU's industry chief, stated at a news conference on Thursday, Feb. 23, that the high official made this decision after concerns were raised regarding the app's potential security risks.

Governments Worldwide Banning TikTok

This action follows the passage of legislation prohibiting the use of TikTok on government equipment by the US Senate in December 2022.

In addition, some state legislators have restricted the platform's use on state-owned devices, and senators and representatives have introduced legislation prohibiting TikTok usage across the US. Some lawmakers have even proposed a nationwide ban on the Chinese video-sharing app.

As first reported by Euractiv, the European Commission's decision to ban the app from corporate phones was prompted by security concerns raised by EU authorities regarding TikTok. Breton declined to provide additional information regarding any security incidents related to the app.

As TikTok Went Global, so did Privacy Concerns

With over 1 billion active users worldwide, TikTok has become an extremely popular platform. The app enables users to create and share short-form videos using various soundtracks, filters, and special effects. Over sixty percent of its user base is under 30, making it particularly popular with younger generations.

According to data compiled by Statista, approximately seven in ten respondents aged 18 to 19 used TikTok, while usage among respondents aged 20 to 29 was around 56%.

TikTok Privacy Concerns Probed in the UK

In September 2022, UK privacy regulators accused TikTok of failing to safeguard children's data privacy. The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) revealed that the social media platform violated the nation's data protection law.

According to the UK's data watchdog's investigation, TikTok processes sensitive information of users under 13. Authorities from the ICO added that the social media giant did so without parental consent from users' parents or legal guardians.

In addition, the ICO stated that TikTok failed to provide its young users with the required information in a clear and concise manner.

According to an investigation by software expert Felix Krause, TikTok can monitor every tap made on its iOS app while the user is browsing. This includes sensitive information such as passwords and links visited.

India, US TikTok Ban

The app has also been criticized for its data privacy practices and security vulnerabilities in other countries. In 2020, India banned TikTok and 58 other Chinese apps due to national security concerns. The Indian government accused these apps of pilfering and transmitting user information to foreign servers.

Similarly, the United States has expressed concern over the app's potential to collect and share user data with the Chinese government. The US Department of Commerce attempted to ban TikTok in 2020, citing threats to national security, but federal courts halted the ban.

TikTok has repeatedly refuted allegations of security risks and taken steps to address concerns regarding user data privacy.

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