European Union Institutions ban TikTok on work devices of staff

European Union Institutions banned their staff from installing TikTok on devices used for work amid concerns over data protection.

According to the media reports, the main European Union governing institutions on Thursday banned TikTok on work devices, in a move that provoked an angry response from the company. The Chinese short video platform, TikTok, has faced increasing Western scrutiny in recent months over fears about how much access Beijing has to user data.

Also read: First American female newscaster Barbara Walters passes away

The reports further stated that the ban affects staff at the European Commission and European Council, which represents member states, but the European Parliament has not yet taken a similar decision. Staff can’t use the TikTok on work devices and personal devices, such as phones, that have official EU email and communication apps installed, according to new rules.

EU spokeswoman Sonya Gospodinova said that the Commission employees must remove the app as soon as possible and should do so by March 15. She said the corporate management board of the Commission, the EU’s executive arm, had made the decision for security reasons.

Sonya Gospdinova further stated that the measure aims to protect the Commission against cybersecurity threats and actions which may be exploited for cyberattacks against the corporate environment of the commission.

In response, TikTok spokesperson said “we believe this suspension is misguided and based on fundamental misconceptions”.