Name: EU Commission Bans TikTok on Staff Phones, Citing Security
Uploaded: 2023-02-24T15:33:46.000Z
Description: BRUSSELS—The European Commission has banned TikTok from staff phones for cybersecurity reasons, marking growing concerns about the Chinese short video-sharing app and its users’ data.

NTD Newsroom comprises teams of reporters, editors, and producers assigned to cover breaking news and other stories.


NTD Newsroom

NTD Plus

Shows

Fast, compelling, first-hand news from China. China in Focus airs Monday–Friday at 9:30 p.m. ET.

China in Focus

Australia Ships $1.7 Billion Tech to Canada for Arctic Defense

The Global AI Race: US Pushes Back Against China’s Cheaper Models

Vivian Li is a producer and reporter based at NTD’s global headquarters in New York City. With more than a decade of experience as a reporter and anchor for NTD’s Chinese-language division, she now primarily contributes to NTD’s English-language program China in Focus.

Vivian Li

China Reviews Draft Law That Targets Foreign, US Sanctions

Tiffany Meier is an anchor, China news investigative reporter, and producer for NTD News based at the network's global headquarters in New York City. Tiffany anchors NTD's flagship shows "NTD Evening News" and "China in Focus" and co-moderates NTD's special election coverage "The Nation Decides." She produced the award-winning NTD Original documentary "Hollywood Takeover: China's Control in the Film Industry."


Tiffany Meier

Expert Unpacks China’s Cyber Threats on US Infrastructure

Chinese EV Maker Demands $23.7 Million From Small Michigan Town

Juliet Song is an international correspondent exclusively covering China news for NTD. She primarily contributes to NTD's "China in Focus," covering U.S.-China relations, the Chinese regime's human rights abuses, and domestic unrest inside China.

Juliet Song

Alibaba Sues Pentagon for Chinese Military Designation

South Korean Chip Workers in High Demand at Work and Marriage

FCC Toughens Submarine Communication Cable Rules

Mary Man is a writer for NTD. She has traveled around the world covering China, international news, and arts and culture.

Mary Man

News

China News

Report: Missouri State University’s Decades-Long MBA Program for Communist Elites

China Builds US Destroyer Replica at Missile Test Site

Trump Sounds Alarm on Communism; Shen Yun Back in Toronto Despite Earlier Hoax Threats

Alibaba Sues Pentagon; Beijing Weaponizes US Courts to Silence Critics

China Builds US Destroyer Replica at Missile Test Site; US Breaks China Mineral Monopolies

US, China Court Brazil Over Rare Earths; One in Ten Chinese Adults Face Debt Problems

Taiwan Begins Drill Simulating War; China Sanctions US Rare Earth, Defense Firms

Ukrainian Drone Makers Target Asian Markets; Taiwan Approves $6.7 Billion Drone Defense Plan

Trump Thanks Xi, Putin for Their 'Neutrality'; US Embassy Warns Travelers of China Exit Bans

US, Japan Reaffirm Indo-Pacific Partnership; US Senate Condemns Xi Jinping

US Issues 3 Warnings in 2 Days on China; Beijing Detains 2 Christian Leaders

G7 Summit Eyes Supply Chain Resilience; US Agencies Ban Chinese-Origin Goods

NTD+ is a streaming platform featuring exclusive programming, investigative news analysis, and award-winning documentaries.


NTD+

Shorts

Alleged Reflecting Pool Vandalism Caught on Video

The Associated Press is an American not-for-profit news agency headquartered in New York City. 

The Associated Press

World News

Americas

Helicopter With Singer Oliver Tree on Passenger List Collides With Another in Brazil, Killing 6

News you can trust from the U.S. and around the world. Critical information and insight. We cover the stories that others don’t. NTD News Today airs Monday–Friday at 11 a.m. ET.

NTD News Today

Iran's Football Team Leaves Note of Friendship

Melanie is a reporter and editor covering world news. She has a background in environmental research.

Melanie Sun

US News

State News

California

California Governor, LA Mayor Declare Emergency Over Warehouse Fire

News with integrity, from the United States and around the world. Focused reports and analyses that shed light on major issues the world deserves to know. NTD Evening News airs daily at 6 p.m. ET.

NTD Evening News

Up to 900 Planes Grounded Worldwide Amid Engine Shortage, United CEO Says

Reuters is a news agency owned by Thomson Reuters. It employs around 2,500 journalists and 600 photojournalists in about 200 locations worldwide writing in 16 languages.

Reuters

Andrew Thomas is a reporter for NTD News primarily covering business, the economy, and technology. 

Andrew Thomas

Science &amp; Tech

NASA Reverses Evacuation Alert Order for Astronauts Aboard Space Station

Rudy Blalock is a Southern California-based daily news reporter for NTD. Originally from Michigan, he moved to California in 2017 and the sunshine and ocean have kept him here since. In his free time, he may be found underwater scuba diving, on top of a mountain hiking or snowboarding, or at home meditating—which helps fuel his active lifestyle.

Rudy Blalock

8 Dead After B-52 Bomber Crashes at Edwards Air Force Base in California

Ohio

At Least 12 People Shot at Ohio Festival, Search for Suspects Ongoing: Police

Daniel Monaghan is a reporter for NTD News covering culture, social issues, and education. He holds a BA in Political Science and Government.

Daniel Monaghan

Epoch Times Obtains Over 2,000 Unseen Tiananmen Square Photos on 37th Anniversary of the June 4th Massacre

Jack Phillips is a breaking news reporter with 15 years experience who started as a local New York City reporter. Having joined The Epoch Times' news team in 2009, Jack was born and raised near Modesto in California's Central Valley. 

Jack Phillips

Middle East

UN Maritime Group to Rescue 11,000 Sailors Stranded in Middle East

Label

Live

NTD+ Live

NYC Firm Hosts Book Party on Investing in Critical Minerals Beyond Beijing’s Reach

'Mineral War' Author on China's Rise, Global Response

China’s Long Arm on American Soil

Special Reports

Global Trade Under the Shadow of the 1989 Tiananmen Massacre

How Americans View China and Chinese ‘Elections’: Special Report

Countering Communism in US With Memorial for Its Victims

US Funding Chinese Communist Party Economic Growth: Experts

China's Artistic Censorship Aimed at Americans: Browde

Taiwan 2024 Special Election Coverage: China in Focus

Expert: Why Social Media Apps Are 'Legal Malware'

BRUSSELS—The European Commission has banned TikTok from staff phones for cybersecurity reasons, marking growing concerns about the Chinese short video-sharing app and its users’ data.

TikTok, which is owned by Chinese firm ByteDance, is under scrutiny from governments and regulators because of concerns that the Chinese communist regime could use its app to harvest users' data or advance its interests.

EU industry chief Thierry Breton, who announced a ban by the European Commission, declined to say whether the Commission had been subject to any incidents involving TikTok.

Responding to the announcement, Tiktok said it was disappointed and surprised that the Commission had not reached out before instituting the ban.

The U.S. Senate in December passed a bill to bar federal employees from using TikTok on government-owned devices. TikTok is banned in India.

The EU executive Commission said in a statement that the decision would apply to work and personal phones and devices.

"To increase its cybersecurity, the Commission's Corporate Management Board has decided to suspend the use of the TikTok application on its corporate devices and on personal devices enrolled in the Commission mobile device service," it said in a statement.

"This measure aims to protect the Commission against cybersecurity threats and actions which may be exploited for cyber-attacks against the corporate environment of the Commission," it added.

A spokesperson for TikTok said it had not been contacted directly by the Commission, nor offered any explanation for its decision.

"We believe this suspension is misguided and based on fundamental misconceptions. We have contacted the Commission to set the record straight and explain how we protect the data of the 125 million people across the EU who come to TikTok every month," the spokesperson said.

The European Parliament said it was aware of the Commission's action and that it was in contact with it.

"Relevant services are also monitoring and assessing all possible data breaches related to the app and will consider the European Commission evaluation before formulating recommendations to European Parliament authorities," a spokesperson said.

The Commission said security developments at other social media platforms would also be kept under constant review.

Programs

Videos

04_Top Stories

eu commission

Latest Clips

TikTok

Europe

Latest and breaking news, documentaries, movies, and lifestyle content on NTD+.
 
Empower your knowledge and elevate your spirit with NTD+, your go-to destination for truthful news, insightful documentaries, and captivating lifestyle content that enriches your life.