The European Union’s Corporate Management Board has temporarily banned TikTok from the phones used by employees as a cybersecurity measure, following concerns from Western officials over the Chinese-owned video sharing app.
TikTok faces increasing scrutiny over data privacy and security concerns from the EU and the US amid fears that the app could be used to promote pro-Beijing views or harvest users’ data. The EU’s decision follows similar moves in the US, where more than half of the states and Congress have already banned TikTok from official government devices.
The EU’s action aims to protect the commission against cybersecurity threats and actions that may be exploited for cyberattacks against the corporate environment. The ban applies to devices issued to staff or personal devices that staff use for work, and employees are required to delete the app from devices used for professional business by March 15. However, it is unclear how the EU plans to enforce the ban for people who use personal phones for work.
TikTok has over 125 million users in the 27-nation European Union, and its Brussels-based public policy official Caroline Greer called the suspension misguided and based on fundamental misconceptions.
She also stated that TikTok is continuing to enhance its approach to data security, including opening three European data centers and minimizing data sent outside the continent. Despite this, the commission spokespeople declined to say whether a specific incident triggered the suspension or what is required to get the ban lifted.
The EU’s decision reflects the broader tech war between China and the West over technology ranging from spy balloons to computer chips. The move comes as concerns over China’s national security laws have grown, which require Chinese firms to provide data when requested by Beijing’s security agencies, regardless of where the data is stored.
