TikTok: Here Are The Countries Where The App Is Already Banned

Here Are The Countries Where TikTok Is Banned

TIKTOK – Here is the list of countries where the popular social media app TikTok is already banned.

Authorities in the United States are targeting TikTok, threatening a nationwide prohibition unless its parent company, ByteDance, based in China, sells off its operations there. This potential ban looms as the most significant setback yet for the widely used video-sharing platform, which has encountered various restrictions globally.

TikTok is already prohibited in several nations and barred from government devices in others, due to concerns over privacy and cybersecurity.

Based on a report from Inquirer, these apprehensions are echoed in the new U.S. legislation, which represents bipartisan concerns in Washington about the potential influence of China’s government over ByteDance, and the security of American user data. Despite TikTok’s assurances that it doesn’t share data with Chinese authorities, the CEO remains steadfast in the face of these challenges.

Here are the places that have partial or total bans on TikTok:

AFGHANISTAN

Since 2022, TikTok, along with the video game PUBG, has been prohibited in Afghanistan, as decreed by the Taliban leadership, aiming to shield young people from potential deception.

AUSTRALIA

TikTok is prohibited on devices provided by the Australian federal government. Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus made this decision based on advice from the nation’s intelligence and security agencies.

BELGIUM

Last month, the National Security Council of Belgium decided to impose an indefinite ban on TikTok on devices owned or funded by the federal government. Initially implemented temporarily last year due to concerns regarding cybersecurity, privacy, and misinformation, Prime Minister Alexander de Croo cited warnings from the state security service and cybersecurity center.

CHINA

TikTok has never been accessible in mainland China, as noted by CEO Shou Chew in testimony before U.S. lawmakers. Instead, ByteDance offers Douyin, a similar video-sharing app complying with Beijing’s stringent censorship regulations. Additionally, TikTok ceased its operations in Hong Kong following the implementation of a comprehensive Chinese national security law.

DENMARK

The Defense Ministry of Denmark has prohibited its employees from having TikTok on their work phones, instructing those who have installed it to remove the app promptly. The ban was motivated by significant security concerns and a minimal work-related necessity for the app’s usage.

EUROPEAN UNION

The European Parliament, European Commission, and the EU Council, the three main institutions of the 27-member bloc, have implemented bans on TikTok on staff devices. Additionally, under the European Parliament’s prohibition, lawmakers and staff were advised to delete the TikTok app from their personal devices.

FRANCE

The “recreational” use of TikTok and other social media platforms like Twitter and Instagram on government employees’ phones has been prohibited in France due to concerns about inadequate data security measures. Although specific apps were not named, the decision was prompted by similar actions taken by other governments targeting TikTok.

INDIA

India enforced a nationwide ban on TikTok and several other Chinese apps, including WeChat, in 2020, citing privacy and security concerns. The ban followed a clash between Indian and Chinese troops at a disputed Himalayan border. Although companies were allowed to address privacy and security inquiries, the ban became permanent in 2021.

INDONESIA

TikTok is not entirely banned in Indonesia, but its online retail function has been restricted after authorities tightened regulations on e-commerce transactions conducted on social media platforms to protect small businesses.

LATVIA

Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics announced the deletion of his TikTok account and declared that the app is also prohibited from official smartphones provided by the foreign ministry.

NETHERLANDS

The Dutch central government banned apps, including TikTok, from employee work phones due to concerns about data security. Although TikTok was not explicitly mentioned, civil servants are advised against having apps from countries with offensive cyber programs against the Netherlands installed on their mobile work devices.

NEPAL

Nepal imposed a nationwide ban on TikTok, attributing it to disruptions in social harmony and goodwill, and blaming it for the dissemination of indecent material. Telecom companies were instructed to block access to the app.

NEW ZEALAND

Lawmakers and staff in New Zealand’s Parliament are prohibited from having the TikTok app on their work phones following advice from government cybersecurity experts. The app was removed from all devices with access to the parliamentary network, with exceptions made for those requiring TikTok for their democratic duties.

NORWAY

The Norwegian parliament banned TikTok on work devices after the Justice Ministry cautioned against its installation on government-issued phones. TikTok is not permitted on devices with access to the assembly’s systems and should be removed promptly. Municipal employees in Oslo and Bergen were also urged to remove TikTok from their work phones.

PAKISTAN

TikTok has been temporarily banned in Pakistan at least four times since 2020 due to concerns about the promotion of immoral content.

SOMALIA

The Somali government ordered telecom companies to block access to TikTok, Telegram, and the gambling platform 1XBET, citing concerns about the spread of extremist content, nude images, and material offensive to Somali culture and Islam.

TAIWAN

Taiwan implemented a public sector ban on TikTok following a warning from the FBI about national security risks associated with the app. Government devices, including mobile phones, tablets, and desktop computers, are prohibited from using Chinese-made software, which includes TikTok, Douyin (its Chinese equivalent), and Xiaohongshu, a Chinese lifestyle content app.

UNITED KINGDOM

British authorities banned TikTok from mobile phones used by government ministers and civil servants as a precautionary measure on security grounds. However, the ban does not apply to personal devices. The British Parliament extended the ban to all official devices and the wider parliamentary network. Additionally, the semi-autonomous Scottish government and London City Hall banned TikTok from staff devices, while the BBC advised staff to delete TikTok from corporate devices unless it is required for editorial or marketing purposes.

UNITED STATES

U.S. authorities instructed government agencies to remove TikTok from federal devices and systems due to data security concerns. More than half of the 50 U.S. states have also banned the app from official devices, along with Congress and the U.S. armed forces. Attempts to enact a statewide ban in Montana and a proposal to block kids from using TikTok in Virginia were unsuccessful.