TikTok, a popular social media platform, has been encountering challenges globally as several countries in North America, Europe, and Asia are imposing restrictions and even outright bans. The primary concerns revolve around privacy issues and cybersecurity risks due to its parent company, ByteDance, and its alleged ties to the Chinese government.
Here’s a breakdown of countries that have chosen to implement either partial or complete bans on TikTok.
Afghanistan
In April 2022, the Taliban in Afghanistan prohibited the use of TikTok, citing non-compliance with Islamic laws as the reason.
Australia
Australia placed a ban on TikTok across all federally owned devices in April 2022 due to security apprehensions raised by the Department of Home Affairs.
Belgium
Belgium has prohibited the use of TikTok on government officials’ work phones, with Prime Minister Alexander De Croo expressing concerns about the Chinese company’s alleged ties to Chinese intelligence services.
Canada
In February 2022, Canada banned TikTok from all government mobile devices due to what it deemed as “an unacceptable level of risk to privacy and security.”
Denmark
In March, Denmark’s Defense Ministry forbade employees from using TikTok on their work devices, citing security considerations from the country’s Center for Cyber Security.
India
In 2020, India enforced a nationwide ban on TikTok and 58 other Chinese apps, citing activities that were seen as prejudicial to the country’s sovereignty, integrity, defense, security, and public order.
Nepal
In November 2023, Nepal announced a ban on TikTok, citing concerns about social harmony disruptions and the spread of malicious content. The ban was to be effective immediately.
The Netherlands
Although not a complete ban, Dutch officials have advised against using TikTok on government devices to align with measures taken by other governmental bodies.
New Zealand
New Zealand’s parliament introduced a ban on TikTok on all staff devices following expert analysis and discussions with local and international colleagues.
Norway
In March, the Norwegian Parliament prohibited TikTok on governmental devices, allowing civil servants to access the app for professional purposes on their personal devices due to security concerns related to China and Russia.
Somalia
In August 2023, Somalia banned TikTok over concerns about the spread of terror-related content on the platform.
Taiwan
In December 2022, Taiwan banned government devices from using Chinese-made software, including TikTok.
United Kingdom
British government ministers were instructed not to use TikTok on work phones and devices following reviews by the UK’s National Cyber Security Centre.
United States
In March, the U.S. demanded that Bytedance sell TikTok or face a total ban in the country. Federal agencies were asked to remove the app from staff phones, and discussions regarding a nationwide ban are ongoing.
For further insights, please refer to the topics: TikTok and Politics.
