Australia banned TikTok on Tuesday from all federal government-owned units over safety considerations, changing into the newest US-allied nation to take motion in opposition to the Chinese language-owned video app.
The ban underscores rising worries that China may use the Beijing-based firm, owned by ByteDance, to reap customers’ information to advance its political agenda, undermining Western safety pursuits.
It additionally dangers renewing diplomatic pressure between Australia and its largest buying and selling companion after issues eased considerably since Prime Minister Anthony Albanese took workplace in Might on the head of a Labour authorities.
TikTok mentioned it was extraordinarily disenchanted by Australia’s resolution, calling it “pushed by politics, not by reality”.
The ban will come into impact “as quickly as practicable”, Legal professional-Normal Mark Dreyfus mentioned in a press release, including that exemptions would solely be granted on a case-by-case foundation and with applicable safety measures in place.
With Australia’s ban, all members of the so-called 5 Eyes intelligence-sharing community – which consists of Australia, Canada, the USA, Britain and New Zealand – have banned the app from authorities units. France, Belgium and the European Fee have introduced related bans.
TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew, in testimony earlier than the US Congress final month, repeatedly denied the app shares information or has connections with the Chinese language Communist Get together.
TikTok’s Australia and New Zealand Normal Supervisor Lee Hunter mentioned TikTok shouldn’t be singled out.
“There isn’t any proof to counsel that TikTok is in any method a safety danger to Australians and shouldn’t be handled in another way to different social media platforms,” Hunter mentioned in a press release.
The Australian newspaper late on Monday reported Albanese had agreed to the ban after a assessment by the Residence Affairs division.
Dreyfus confirmed the federal authorities had just lately obtained a “Evaluate into Overseas Interference via Social Media Functions” report and that its suggestions remained into account.
Commerce talks ‘going properly’
The ban comes on the day Australian and Chinese language officers held talks in Beijing in a bid to normalise commerce because the World Commerce Organisation prepares to launch findings into an Australian grievance on barley tariffs.
“Issues are going properly, however in fact, it will take a while to show this ship round,” Commerce Minister Don Farrell advised Sky Information, referring to prospects for enhancing commerce relations.
In 2018, Australia banned China’s Huawei from offering gear in the course of the rollout of its 5G community, riling China. Ties soured additional after Canberra referred to as for an impartial investigation into the origin of COVID-19.
China responded by imposing tariffs on Australian commodities.
Australian lawmakers can nonetheless use TikTok on private telephones however some, together with federal Authorities Providers Minister Invoice Shorten and Victoria state Premier Daniel Andrews, have determined to delete their accounts.
Victoria state may also ban the app on state government-owned telephones, a authorities spokesperson advised Reuters.
Whereas TikTok comes beneath mounting strain over the potential Chinese language affect over the platform, it additionally faces criticism over its affect on youngsters.
TikTok has mentioned the administration of President Joe Biden demanded its Chinese language homeowners divest their stakes or face a possible US ban.
© Thomson Reuters 2023
