Taiwan’s Minister of Digital Affairs, Audrey Tang, has officially classified TikTok as a significant national security threat due to its association with a China-based company, echoing concerns raised in the United States. This declaration comes amid growing global scrutiny of the popular social media platform’s ties to foreign entities.
According to reports from Central News Agency Taiwan, Minister Tang emphasized that TikTok’s connection to foreign adversaries aligns with the viewpoint of the United States, which considers TikTok a potential risk to national security. In a recent legislative hearing, Tang stated, “Taiwan has classified TikTok as a dangerous product,” citing concerns about its susceptibility to control by foreign entities, either directly or indirectly, posing a threat to national information and communication security.
This move in Taiwan mirrors similar actions in the United States, where the House of Representatives recently passed a bill targeting ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, with a deadline to divest its US assets or face a nationwide ban. Taiwan’s Ministry of Digital Affairs (MODA) has proposed an amendment to the Cyber Security Management Act, reflecting concerns about indirect foreign influence over digital platforms.
While TikTok’s usage is already restricted within Taiwanese government agencies and premises, Minister Tang hinted at the possibility of extending this ban to schools, non-governmental agencies, and public spaces pending a decision by the Cabinet. This decision would follow a comprehensive assessment considering legal processes and practical feasibility.
“The final decision will be made by the Cabinet after extensive consideration of opinions in various sectors,” the ministry stated, highlighting ongoing inter-ministerial discussions convened by the Cabinet to address digital security concerns effectively.
The ministry also expressed vigilance regarding the progress of the TikTok bill in the US Congress, indicating a keen interest in international developments shaping digital security policies.
Under Taiwan’s existing regulations established in 2019 and revised in 2022, any information and communication system or service with the potential to disrupt government operations or societal stability is classified as a product endangering national information and communication security.
Sources By Agencies
