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 subject 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 several countries around the world due to its security and privacy practices. Here are the 10 countries where TikTok is banned:
1. India
In June 2020, the Indian government implemented a complete ban on TikTok, together with multiple Chinese applications, because they claimed these platforms endangered both national security and user data protection. The Indian government claimed that TikTok served as a tool for distributing false information and propaganda, which endangered India’s national sovereignty. The app’s data collection activities prompted authorities to worry about foreign entities obtaining user information because they wanted to preserve the privacy rights of Indian citizens.
The government implemented this action during rising India-China geopolitical conflicts because it needed to protect both digital networks and national security interests. The ban created widespread public discussion, which received backing from some people but faced opposition from others. The supporters defended the measure because they believed it would safeguard both national security and the personal information of citizens, but opponents warned about negative effects on content producers and small businesses that depended on TikTok for their operations. The new policy sparked a major discussion about how technology interacts with both international relations and digital system management.
2. Afghanistan
In September 2022, the Taliban government banned TikTok because it claimed the platform operated against Islamic principles. The ban followed the Taliban’s general social media policies, which restrict Facebook and Twitter usage as well. The government officials claimed these applications spread material that contradicts national moral values and religious beliefs, thus threatening established social norms according to official interpretation.
The decision created instant effects on Afghan content creators who used TikTok to connect with viewers and earn money. International human rights organisations condemned the action because they believed it would restrict freedom of expression and block Afghan people, especially women and young people, from accessing global communication networks.
3. Australia
In April 2023, Australian officials banned TikTok from government property because they believed the app posed security hazards and privacy violations. The authorities issued a warning that the application might gather user information through unauthorised means, which would threaten the exposure of classified government data. The government pointed out that TikTok presented a threat because it might distribute false information, which would affect how people see things and damage public institutions. The Australian government restricted TikTok access on official government devices instead of banning the app for all users, like other nations did, because they wanted to protect public safety while maintaining user access.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. 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.
9. 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.
10. 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 radicalise 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?
