It is a decision that has the effect of a thunderclap. This Thursday, the European Commission announces the ban on its employees from using TikTok on their devices for professional use. According to a spokesperson for the institution, quoted by AFP, the objective is to protect the institution’s data.
Officials and employees of the European Commission have been asked to uninstall the Chinese application from their professional devices by March 15 at the latest, said the spokesperson confirming information from the Politico online site.
The specter of cyber espionage
According to the political news site, the Commission allows its employees to use their personal devices at work, a decision “horrible” from a security point of view in the opinion of some senior officials quoted by the newspaper. Still according to Politico, other European institutions should follow the Commission’s lead, such as the European Council or the Parliament.
The Chinese social network, particularly trendy among the youngest, hastened to denounce this decision, which it considers “erroneous”.
Western governments are increasingly worried about Chinese espionage attempts. A week ago, the United States shot down a “spy” balloon that flew over its airspace without warning.