Taiwan has declared the popular video sharing platform TikTok as a 'major threat' to national security. The autonomous region's Minister of Digital Affairs, Audrey Tang, made the announcement.
Tang argued that the platform's association with foreign adversaries aligns with the United States' perspective, which considers TikTok a potential risk to national security.
In a recent legislative hearing, Tang stated, "Taiwan has classified TikTok as a dangerous product." She explained that any product susceptible to control by foreign adversaries, either directly or indirectly, poses a threat to national information and communication security according to Taiwan's standards, as reported by CNA Taiwan.
The move in Taiwan follows a similar trend in the United States. The US House of Representatives recently passed a bill targeting ByteDance, TikTok's parent company, giving it a timeline to divest its US assets or face a nationwide ban. This legislation mirrors Taiwan's concerns about foreign influence over digital platforms.
Tang disclosed that Taiwan's Ministry of Digital Affairs (MODA) has proposed an amendment to the Cyber Security Management Act, echoing apprehensions voiced in the U.S.
House bill regarding indirect foreign influence. This amendment reflects Taiwan's commitment to safeguarding its digital infrastructure from external interference.
Read more: How much we know about the Chinese owner of TikTok?
