Australia’s top spy agency has recently caused a stir in the online community by adding to growing concerns about TikTok, the popular social media app. State governments across the nation have taken action in response to these concerns and are now enacting TikTok bans on official work devices; this is in an effort to protect users’ personal data from potential access by the Chinese government.
TikTok, which is owned by the Chinese company ByteDance, has become a popular platform for users to share short videos and connect with others. However, the app’s rising popularity has also brought scrutiny from security experts and government agencies around the world.
Lee Hunter, the Australian general manager of the app, recently assured The Project’s viewers that users should feel secure when using TikTok, adding that China has no way of accessing data, despite the parent company of the site being based in China.
The Australian Signals Directorate (ASD), a national intelligence organisation, recently issued a warning to the public that the app should not be used on a device that can access other information.
Premier Jeremy Rockliff has announced that Tasmania is joining other Australian states in banning the use of TikTok in workplaces, and the state government is taking steps to implement the ban as quickly as possible.
“The Tasmanian Government is making the safeguarding of its information, people and assets from any damage or danger a priority,” the premier said.
