The challenges faced by TikTok appear to be ceaseless. The popular social media platform TikTok has faced bans or attempted bans by many governmental entities and business enterprises.
Several countries, such as India and the United States, have expressed security apprehensions surrounding the ownership of the app by the Chinese company ByteDance, leading to discussions of implementing a ban on it.
TikTok has been subjected to prohibition due to several factors. Several countries, such as Indonesia and Bangladesh, have implemented prohibitions on pornography due to concerns over its impact. Several countries, including Armenia and Azerbaijan, have implemented restrictions aimed at preventing the spread of content that has the potential to incite war. The reported reason for Syria’s prohibition is the alleged involvement of human trafficking facilitated across its border with Turkey, leading to the infiltration of Europe and other countries.
The app has been banned in a number of countries around the world, due its security and privacy practices. Here are the 10 countries where TikTok is banned:
India
India banned TikTok in June 2020, citing national security concerns. The Indian government alleged that TikTok was being used to spread misinformation and propaganda, and that it was a threat to the country’s sovereignty.
Afghanistan
The Taliban government in Afghanistan banned TikTok in September 2022, saying that it was “not in line with Islamic values.” The Taliban has also banned other social media platforms, such as Facebook and Twitter.
Australia
Australia banned TikTok from all government-owned devices in April 2023, citing concerns about its security and privacy practices. The Australian government said that TikTok could be used to collect data on users without their knowledge or consent, and that it could be used to spread misinformation.
Belgium
Belgium banned TikTok from all federal government work devices in March 2023, citing similar concerns to those raised by the Australian government. The Belgian government also said that TikTok could be used to spread hate speech and extremism.
Canada
Canada banned TikTok from all government-issued devices in February 2023, for the same reasons as Australia and Belgium. The Canadian government also said that TikTok could be used to collect data on children.
Denmark
Denmark’s Ministry of Defence banned TikTok from work devices in March 2023. The ministry said that TikTok could be used to collect data on military personnel and that it could be used to spread propaganda.
EU institutions
The European Union’s (EU) executive arm, the European Commission, has banned TikTok from being used on EU government devices. The ban was imposed in July 2023, after the Commission found that TikTok could be used to collect data on EU officials without their knowledge or consent.
France
France banned TikTok from being used on government devices in July 2023. The French government said that TikTok could be used to collect data on French citizens without their knowledge or consent, and that it could be used to spread misinformation.
Netherlands
The Dutch central government banned TikTok from being used on employee work phones in March 2023. The government said that TikTok could be used to collect data on Dutch citizens without their knowledge or consent, and that it could be used to spread hate speech and extremism.
Somalia
Somalia banned TikTok in August 2023, over concerns that the app was being used to spread terror-related content. The Somali government said that TikTok could be used to recruit and radicalize young people.
Final Words
These are just some of the countries where TikTok has been banned. The app has also been banned in other countries, such as Indonesia, Pakistan, and Vietnam. The reasons for these bans vary, but they all share concerns about TikTok’s security and privacy practices.
It is important to note that TikTok has denied these allegations and has said that it is committed to protecting the privacy of its users. The company has also said that it is working to address the concerns of governments around the world.
Also Read: How to Make Money on TikTok?
