TikTok has raised concerns about the European Commission’s recent decision to ban its app from staff phones, citing a lack of consultation over the cybersecurity rationale behind the ban. This action was also mirrored by another prominent EU institution.
The app, owned by the Chinese company ByteDance, has come under increased examination from Western regulatory bodies due to apprehensions that the Chinese government may exploit it to collect user data, a claim that Beijing consistently refutes.
On Thursday, the EU executive and the EU Council, which comprises representatives from member states, announced that staff must also remove TikTok from any personal mobile devices that can access corporate networks.
TikTok responded stating that it had not been notified or engaged by either of the two EU entities before these decisions were made.
Caroline Greer, TikTok’s director of public policy and government relations, expressed to Reuters that the company feels left in the dark regarding the situation. “We are really operating under a cloud. The lack of transparency and due process is concerning. One would expect some level of engagement on such matters,” she stated.
Greer also pointed out that without specified details on the cybersecurity concerns, the company could not adequately respond or address them.
In defense of their actions, the European Commission referred to comments made by Thierry Breton, the EU industry chief, at a news conference on Thursday. Breton indicated that the Commission is not obligated to justify its decisions, particularly those aimed at maintaining its functions.
An EU official clarified, “The decision to suspend TikTok is an internal matter focused on cybersecurity to safeguard the data and staff of the Council General Secretariat. Since the GSC has no contractual ties with TikTok, there is no requirement to consult or inform the app.”
Greer highlighted that TikTok’s CEO, Shou Zi Chew, who met with Breton and other officials in Brussels earlier in the year, feels “concerned and a little puzzled.” She emphasized that the CEO has always been accessible and responsive to the Commission’s requests. “We have reached out for a meeting in any format they prefer,” she noted.
Greer further encouraged other EU institutions to conduct their own evaluations of TikTok before making any decisions regarding the app.
In the United States, TikTok is already prohibited on government-owned devices for Senate employees and has faced similar restrictions in India. However, the European Parliament has yet to implement a ban on the app.
© Thomson Reuters 2023
