The Canadian government is banning TikTok on all government mobile devices starting March 1, several local media outlets reported Monday, citing a government notice. The move follows similar measures taken in the United States and the EU and is in response to alleged vulnerabilities in the application that expose users to potential cyber-attacks.
According to the government memo, the decision was made by Canada's Chief Information Officer "to ensure the security and protection of government information systems and networks." Moreover, "the government will continue to monitor the situation and will work with partners to keep the information on our systems and networks secure."
For its part, a Tiktok spokesperson said after the report broke that the company is "disappointed" by the action taken and emphasized that the government never contacted the company to discuss any issues related to the security of the application.