France has banned government employees from using recreational apps, including TikTok, Twitter, and Instagram, on their phones due to insufficient data security measures. Other democratic countries have also banned TikTok on government phones due to fears about its Chinese connections. The ban will be monitored by France’s cybersecurity agency and includes other platforms widely used by government officials, lawmakers, and President Emmanuel Macron himself. However, exceptions will be allowed for professional purposes, like public communication. The CEO of ByteDance, which owns TikTok, has denied that TikTok or ByteDance are tools of the Chinese government during a questioning by U.S. lawmakers. Nevertheless, a law China implemented in 2017 requires companies to give the government any personal data relevant to the country’s national security, causing fears due to the vast amount of user data TikTok collects.
France Prohibits Recreational Use of TikTok, Twitter, and Other Apps on Government Staff Phones
The French government has banned the recreational use of TikTok, Twitter, Instagram, and other apps on government employees’ phones. This decision comes amid concerns about insufficient data security measures, which could potentially jeopardize sensitive information. The move follows similar restrictions on TikTok in other democratic countries, amid fears about the popular video-sharing app’s Chinese connections.
The French Minister for Transformation and Public Administration, Stanislas Guerini, said that “recreational” apps aren’t secure enough to be used in state administrative services and “could present a risk for the protection of data.” The ban includes other platforms widely used by government officials, lawmakers, and President Emmanuel Macron himself. The ban will be monitored by France’s cybersecurity agency, but the statement did not specify which apps are banned.
Guerini’s office said that the ban also includes Twitter, Instagram, Netflix, gaming apps like Candy Crush, and dating apps, but exceptions will be allowed. If an official wants to use a banned app for professional purposes, like public communication, they can request permission to do so. For instance, Guerini posted the announcement of the ban on Twitter.
The U.S., Britain, the European Union, and other countries have banned TikTok on government phones due to concerns that Chinese authorities could force TikTok’s Chinese owner, ByteDance Ltd., to hand over data on international users or push pro-Beijing narratives. However, the company’s CEO, Shou Zi Chew, denied that TikTok or ByteDance are tools of the Chinese government during a questioning by U.S. lawmakers on Thursday.
The company has been reiterating that 60 percent of ByteDance is owned by global institutional investors. Nevertheless, a law China implemented in 2017 requires companies to give the government any personal data relevant to the country’s national security. Although there is no evidence that TikTok has turned over such data, fears remain due to the vast amount of user data it collects.
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