The European Union’s executive branch, the Corporate Management Board, has temporarily suspended the use of TikTok on devices issued to staff or personal devices used for work due to cybersecurity concerns. This move reflects the growing anxiety among Western officials over the Chinese-owned video-sharing app’s security and data privacy. There are worries that TikTok could be used to promote pro-Beijing views or collect users’ information, prompting increasing scrutiny from both Europe and the US. The EU’s action follows the US, where more than half of the states and Congress have already banned TikTok from official government devices.
TikTok’s suspension is not specific to any incident, and EU representatives have not disclosed how they plan to enforce the ban on personal phones used for work. Staffers must delete TikTok from their devices by March 15, according to EU representatives. The video-sharing app’s Brussels-based public policy official, Caroline Greer, called the suspension “misguided and based on fundamental misconceptions.” TikTok, with 125 million users in the EU, has been “continuing to enhance” its approach to data security, Greer said.
TikTok has been pressured by the EU to comply with upcoming digital regulations that require large online platforms to clean up toxic and illegal content, as well as adhere to strict data privacy rules. Norway’s justice minister also recently apologized for installing TikTok on her government-issued phone.
In the ongoing tug of war between China and the West over technology, from spy balloons to computer chips, TikTok has become a high-profile target. While it is unclear when the suspension will be lifted, the EU’s move to ban TikTok on employee phones is a clear indication of the growing concern over the app’s security risks.
