Austria has decided to ban TikTok on federal employees’ work phones due to security concerns. This decision was made based on advice from the country’s intelligence services and several ministry experts. The ban follows similar measures taken by the United States, Britain, Australia, France, the Netherlands, and the European Commission.
The Austrian interior ministry stated that “the federal government has decided to ban the private use and installation of TikTok on work devices of federal employees.” The ban is intended to prevent potential access to government information as much as possible. However, private devices will not be affected.
TikTok is a social media platform with over one billion global users, known for sharing short, viral videos. Security concerns over TikTok are due to a 2017 Chinese law that requires local firms to hand over personal data to the state if it is relevant to national security. While Beijing denies that these reforms pose a threat to ordinary users, Western nations are taking action to ensure the safety of their citizens.
