Bytedance, the Chinese company that owns TikTok, has long insisted that it does not exchange data with the Chinese government and that it does not store any of its data there.
The company alleges that the app is independently managed and refutes claims that it collects more user data than other social media sites. However, many countries tend to have erred on the side of caution when it comes to the platform and their ties to China.
We are listing the countries and regions that have either imposed a partial or a complete ban on TikTok:
INDIA
India imposed a ban on TikTok along with several other Chinese apps like messaging app WeChat in 2020, following concerns over user privacy and cybersecurity.
The ban was implemented shortly after a clash between Indian and Chinese troops in a military dispute on the Himalayan border, which resulted in the death of 20 Indian soldiers and injured dozens. The corporations were given the chance to respond to inquiries about privacy and security requirements, but the ban was rendered permanent in January 2021.
TAIWAN
Following a warning issued by the FBI that TikTok presented a threat to national security, Taiwan banned the app from the public sector in December 2022. Chinese-made software, including apps like TikTok, its Chinese version Douyin, or Xiaohongshu, a Chinese lifestyle content app, is not permitted to be used on government equipment, including smartphones, tablets, and desktop computers.
UNITED STATES
This week, the US announced that the government authorities have 30 days to delete TikTok from federal devices and systems. The ban is applicable only to state-owned devices. China reacted angrily to the American decision to block TikTok, accusing the United States of abusing its power and stifling foreign companies.
Also, the software is prohibited from being used on official devices in more than half of the 50 U.S. states.
CANADA
Following the announcement made by the US, Canada announced that the government-issued devices must not use TikTok on Monday, noting that the app could put the devices’ privacy and security at stake. In the future, the employees may as well be restricted to download the application.
EUROPEAN UNION
TikTok has been banned on employee devices by the European Parliament, European Commission, and EU Council, three of the major EU organizations. The embargo imposed by the European Parliament becomes effective on March 20. It has been advised to lawmakers and staff to uninstall the app from their personal devices.
PAKISTAN
Since October 2020, Pakistani authorities have briefly banned TikTok at least four times due to worries that the app encourages immoral content.
AFGHANISTAN
In 2022, the Taliban leadership in Afghanistan outlawed TikTok and the Chinese game PUBG, citing the need to prevent children from "being misled."
