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Embattled social media app TikTok will soon be banned on government devices in New Zealand.
Parliamentary Service chief executive Rafael Gonzalez-Montero made the announcement on Friday, 17 March, making New Zealand the latest of a raft of countries expressing concern over the Chinese-owned app.
“On advice from our cyber security experts, Parliamentary Service has informed members and staff the application TikTok will be removed from all devices with access to the parliamentary network,” Gonzalez-Montero said. “Arrangements can be made for those who require the app to perform their democratic duties.”
“This decision has been made based on our own experts’ analysis and following discussion with our colleagues across government and internationally. Based on this information, the Service has determined that the risks are not acceptable in the current New Zealand Parliamentary environment.”
New Zealand’s Prime Minister, Chris Hipkins, said at a press conference that “departments and agencies follow the advice of the (Government Communications Security Bureau) in terms of IT and cyber security policies”.
“We don’t have a blanket across the public sector approach,” Hipkins said.
Both the United States and Canada have already announced TikTok bans at federal and state levels, and concern over the app’s data use and privacy practices has prompted concern in Australia, as well — a ban has not yet been announced, but it appears that one may be on the horizon, according to Government Services and NDIS Minister Bill Shorten.
Speaking on Channel Nine’s Today this morning (21 March), Minister Shorten said that he was no longer using the app and that more moves to restrict its use are afoot.
“The government is reviewing the social media platforms,” Minister Shorten told Today, after admitting he saw the app as a “serious issue”.
According to Nine’s reporting: “Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neill is expected to announce a ban of the app’s use on government devices.”
David Hollingworth has been writing about technology for over 20 years, and has worked for a range of print and online titles in his career. He is enjoying getting to grips with cyber security, especially when it lets him talk about Lego.
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