France bans TikTok, Twitter, Instagram on government staff phones

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
25 Mar 2023 20:26

The ban in question has to do with the “recreational” use of the apps, citing concern about insufficient data security measures.

Stanislas Guerini, the Minister of Public Transportation and Service (AP)

France announced a ban on Friday on the "recreational" use of TikTok, Twitter, Instagram, and other apps on government employees' phones citing data security concerns.

France followed in the footsteps of other countries, such as the US, the UK, New Zealand, and others imposing restrictions on TikTok amid fears about the video-sharing app's alleged connection with the Chinese government.

The French government's decision targeted other platforms widely used by government officials, including lawmakers and even President Macron himself.

The "recreational" apps are not secure enough to be used in state administrative services and "could present a risk for the protection of data," said the French Minister for Transformation and Public Administration, Stanislas Guerini.

France's cybersecurity agency will monitor the ban. The statement did not specify which apps are banned but noted that the decision came after other governments took measures targeting TikTok.

The #US has been in a frenzy about banning #TikTok. pic.twitter.com/WsagDlLQq0
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) March 1, 2023

Guerini's office said in a message to The Associated Press that the ban will include Twitter, Instagram, Netflix, dating apps, and gaming apps, such as Candy Crush.

If an official wants to use a banned app for professional purposes or public communication, exceptions will be allowed, and they can request permission to do so.

The US, Britain, and the European Union have already banned TikTok on government phones as they worry that Chinese authorities could force TikTok to hand over data to international users, which China categorically rejected.

Shou Zi Chew, TikTok's CEO, asserted that TikTok or ByteDance, TikTok's other company, is not a tool of the Chinese government when he was questioned by US lawmakers on Thursday.