The VVD stops TikTok completely. The party managed to achieve another million views on the platform with a video by Mark Rutte, but does not even rule out a complete ban on the app.
The social media platform TikTok from China has been discredited for some time because it would pass on privacy-sensitive data to the Chinese government. Civil servants had already had to remove the app, and parties in the House of Representatives are calling for it not to be used there in any case. The VVD will also delete its account with about 100,000 followers.
According to Member of Parliament Queeny Rajkowski, the fact that the VVD is following so late is not due to the campaign for the Provincial Council elections. The party did not want to act unfounded. “It’s quite something you accuse them of,” said the VVD member. “Shouting is easy, you can do that. I think it is important that there is proper evidence before you act.”
And that’s where it is now, according to Rajkowski. “The AIVD states that the use of TikTok entails a great risk. If all those experts say that, then we as a political party also have the exemplary function to stop it.”
Ban
That does not mean that TikTok should be banned as a whole. “But if it is necessary, it is necessary,” adds Rajkowski. “You have to have really hard evidence, but the VVD does not shy away from any measures to keep the Netherlands safe.” However, this would have to be regulated in Europe. “The digital world knows no borders.”
For now, Rajkowski insists: “Everyone should decide for themselves whether they want TikTok.” She herself removed it half a year ago. “I do miss it. You still get the trends, but that does not outweigh the risks. Realize that they can look into your whole phone and see everything. Then it gets scary.”
Thursday morning posted the account @vvdoptiktok a final video explaining why the party is closing. In a week the entire account will be deleted. The party regularly posted TikToks until today, with views ranging from a thousand to a million.
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