Skip to main content

China hits out as US bans Chinese-owned TikTok on federal devices

China hits out as US bans Chinese-owned TikTok on federal devices

 China has accused the United States of overreacting after the White House on Monday gave government agencies 30 days to ensure employees had removed the Chinese-owned video app TikTok on federal devices. The order follows similar moves by the European Union and Canada in recent weeks.

A spokesperson for China's foreign ministry Mao Ning accused the US of abusing state power in order to suppress foreign firms during a news briefing on Tuesday. She highlighted the importance of providing foreign companies in the US with an open, fair, and non-discriminatory environment.

In recent months, a growing number of Western officials have expressed concerns over the app - owned by Chinese firm ByteDance. TikTok has been subjected to numerous allegations that it harvests users' data and hands it to the Asian government, with some intelligence agencies raising warnings against confidential information getting exposed when the app is downloaded to government-issued devices.

However, TikTok insists that it operates no differently from other social media companies, adding it would never go along with an order to transfer data.

In the coming weeks, congressional Republicans could pass further legislation which would offer President Joe Biden to ban the video-sharing app nationally.

Following a review conducted by Canada's chief information officer, who ruled TikTok presented a "risk to privacy and security", the country has also imposed a new ban on the app on government phones starting from Tuesday.


Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Syria Condemns Israeli Incursion into Beit Jinn, Holds Israel Responsible for Escalation

 Syria strongly condemned an Israeli military incursion into the town of Beit Jinn in rural Damascus, denouncing the assault on civilians and their property, which resulted in casualties and widespread panic. In an official statement, the Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs described the incursion as a war crime, stating it followed Israel’s failed attempt to target the town. The ministry held Israeli authorities fully responsible for the aggression and its consequences. Syria called on the UN Security Council, the United Nations, and the Arab League to take urgent action to halt repeated violations. It reaffirmed its commitment to defending its sovereignty and people through all means permitted under international law.
Post a Comment
Read more

Israel issues latest forced evacuation order in areas in Khan Younis

  The Israeli army’s Arabic-language spokesperson, Avichay Adraee, has issued the latest forced evacuation order for civilians living in nine areas in Khan Younis, southern Gaza. Adraee said that the army was expanding its operation and “intensifying sudden and concentrated firepower”. The spokesperson called on residents to evacuate westward. So-called Israeli safe zones, including Al-Mawasi in Khan Younis, are routinely attacked despite the army forcing Palestinians to move to those areas.
Post a Comment
Read more

Bombay High Court Restricts Bursting of Firecrackers in Mumbai During Diwali to These Timings

  The festival of Diwali, often referred to as the "Festival of Lights," is celebrated with great enthusiasm and fervor across India. While the tradition of lighting lamps and bursting firecrackers has been an integral part of the festivities, concerns over air pollution and its adverse effects on public health have prompted authorities to regulate the use of fireworks. The Bombay High Court , in a recent decision, has imposed restrictions on the bursting of firecrackers in Mumbai during Diwali, specifying designated timings to minimize the environmental impact. In an effort to strike a balance between celebrating the festival and safeguarding the environment, the Bombay High Court issued a directive that restricts the use of firecrackers to specific time slots. The court's decision is a response to the rising concerns about air quality and noise pollution during Diwali, which often reaches hazardous levels in several Indian cities. These timings aim to strike a balance b...
Post a Comment
Read more