Taiwan’s Minister of Digital Affairs, Audrey Tang, has raised concerns about TikTok, a popular social media platform owned by a company based in China. She says it’s a big worry for Taiwan’s national security. This information was reported by the Central News Agency Taiwan.
Tang said that TikTok’s connections with foreign countries that might not be friendly to Taiwan are worrisome. She pointed out that even the United States sees TikTok as a potential risk to its national security.
In a recent meeting with lawmakers, Tang said, “Taiwan considers TikTok a dangerous product.” She explained that any product that could be controlled by other countries, whether directly or indirectly, is a threat to Taiwan’s information and communication security.
Taiwan’s move comes after the United States took similar steps. The US House of Representatives passed a bill targeting ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company. The bill gives ByteDance a deadline to sell its assets in the US or face a ban. Taiwan shares similar concerns about foreign influence over digital platforms.
Tang revealed that Taiwan’s Ministry of Digital Affairs has suggested changing a law called the Cyber Security Management Act. This change aims to address worries similar to those in the US bill about indirect foreign control. Taiwan wants to protect its digital systems from outside interference.
Although TikTok is already limited in Taiwanese government offices, Tang hinted that this ban might expand to schools, non-governmental organizations, and public spaces. But this decision depends on discussions within the government.
The final call will be made by the Cabinet after considering views from different sectors. The ministry stressed that this decision will follow legal processes and practical considerations.
The ministry also mentioned keeping an eye on the US Congress’s actions regarding TikTok. This shows Taiwan’s interest in global developments related to digital security.
Taiwan already has rules since 2019, updated in 2022, that classify any system or service capable of disrupting government operations or social stability as a threat to national information and communication security.
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