Which countries have banned TikTok?

TikTok is facing increasing restrictions and bans worldwide.

A ban has been looming in the U.S. since last year, with TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew’s congressional hearings making headlines last year. Now in 2024, President Joe Biden signed a bill requiring TikTok’s parent company ByteDance to divest from the app or face a national ban.

Additionally, several countries across North America, Europe, and Asia have introduced some level of restrictions on the app, primarily due to privacy and cybersecurity concerns related to ByteDance’s ties to the Chinese government. This is because of concerns.International government bodies such as the European Commission and the European Commission NATO It, like federal governments around the world, prohibits employees from using TikTok on work phones.

Countries that have imposed partial or complete bans on the app are:

Afghanistan

The Taliban banned TikTok in Afghanistan in April 2022, saying the platform’s content “violates Islamic law.” According to Bloomberg.

Australia

In April 2023, Australia bans app It banned access from all federally owned devices, citing security concerns raised by the Department of the Interior. Attorney General Mark Dreyfus said the ban would be imposed “as soon as practicable.”

Belgium

Belgium bans TikTok From a government employee’s work phone in March 2023. Prime Minister Alexander Decroo said in a statement to Politico: “We must not be naive. TikTok is now a Chinese company that is required to cooperate with Chinese intelligence services.”

Canada

Imitating other countries Canada banned TikTok From all government mobile devices in February 2023. Finance Committee Chair Mona Fortier said: The partial ban is because the app presents an “unacceptable level of risk to privacy and security.”

“The government’s decision to remove and block TikTok from mobile devices is being taken as a precautionary measure, especially given concerns about the legal system governing information collected from mobile devices, and the approach of international partners. “It’s consistent with that,” she said. In a statement.

Denmark

Danish Ministry of Defense bans personnel from entering the country Staff were instructed to remove the app as soon as possible, also in relation to security considerations assessed by the country’s Cyber ​​Security Center.

India

India moved against TikTok in 2020, banning it and 58 other Chinese apps nationwide.[engaging] “Activities prejudicial to the sovereignty and integrity of India, defense of India, national security and security are prohibited,” the government said in response to deadly border clashes between the Indian and Chinese forces. Introduced. Total ban on apps.

Nepal

In November 2023, Nepal banned TikTok for disrupting “social harmony.” BBC reported Communications and Information Technology Minister Rekha Sharma said the ban would come into effect immediately as the app spread malicious content. TikTok is widely used It is especially popular with young and female social media users in this country.

Netherlands

Although not a complete ban, Dutch authorities have I was told not to use TikTok The recommendation is in line with several other government agencies, but is not closely monitored in the Netherlands, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Internal Affairs told Politico.

new zealand

This comes after several European countries took similar decisions. New Zealand Parliament announces ban on TikTok on all staff devices In March 2023.

“This decision was made based on our own expert analysis and discussions with our colleagues in government and internationally.” Read the government statement Prepared by Rafael González Montero, Secretary of Congressional Services. “Based on this information, the authorities have determined that the risk is not acceptable in the current New Zealand parliamentary environment.”

Norway

of Norwegian parliament bans TikTok It will be available on government devices in March 2023, but civil servants will be allowed to use the app for professional purposes on their personal devices. “Norwegian intelligence has named Russia and China as the main risks to Norway’s security interests,” the country’s Justice Minister Emily Enger Meer said in a statement. Mehl experienced considerable scrutiny for using TikTok on her work phone Even before it was banned.

Somalia

In August 2023, Somalia bans TikTok Concerns about terrorism-related content. The government said terrorist groups are using platforms such as TikTok and Telegram to “spread horrific images and misinformation to the public.”

Taiwan

Taiwanese government devices Prohibit the use of Chinese softwareincluding TikTok, in December 2022.

England

UK government ministers will be banned from using TikTok on their work phones and devices in March 2023 following a review by the UK’s National Cyber ​​Security Center. Cabinet Office Minister Oliver Dowden explained. The governments of the United States and Canada and the European Commission said in a statement that the governments’ decisions were “in line with similar restrictions introduced by key international partners.”

“Given the potentially sensitive nature of information stored on government devices, government policy on the management of third-party applications has been strengthened and a precautionary ban of TikTok on government devices has been introduced. will be carried out,” the statement reads.

America

In short, it’s complicated. Latest update: On April 24, President Biden signed a bill that would ban TikTok in the United States if ByteDance fails to withdraw from the TikTok app within the next year.

This is the result of significant progress made in 2024. On March 14, the House of Representatives passed a bill that would ban TikTok unless ByteDance exits the app. The bill was passed again in April and then sent to the Senate.

In response, TikTok is campaigning to protect itself in the U.S., with CEO Shou Zi Chew hinting that the company may take legal action and warning TikTok creators and companies that We also carry out lobbying activities. “This bill would give even more power to a handful of other social media outlets.” It would also take billions of dollars out of the pockets of creators and small businesses, and put more than 300,000 American jobs at risk. , TikTok will be taken away. ”

After the president signed the bill, TikTok issued a statement calling the decision “unconstitutional.”

Tweet may have been deleted

“We believe the facts and the law are clearly on our side, and we believe that ultimately we will prevail. The fact is that we keep American data secure and our platform “We have invested billions of dollars to protect our products from outside influence and manipulation,” the statement said. X by @TikTokPolicy.

Prior to this, in February 2023 Federal agencies asked to remove apps from employees’ phonesand The White House has already banned TikTok on devices. In March 2023, Chu testified before Congress, defending the app and bringing up Project Texas, the company’s effort to protect user data in the United States. Months later, the Montana House of Representatives passed a bill banning TikTok, potentially making the app illegal if the governor signs the bill. However, a judge declared the bill unconstitutional regarding the First Amendment right to free speech and blocked the state’s ban.

That means TikTok’s future in the U.S. remains in question. TikTok is fighting back, So does that user.

Here’s everything you need to know about the potential US ban on TikTok and other Chinese apps it could affect.