Polish MEP Beata Mazurek has expressed the opinion that with the help of the Chinese social network TikTok interested parties can allegedly “influence public opinion”, including on issues related to NATO and EU support for Ukraine.
The main arguments for banning TikTok, according to Mazurek, are that China allegedly “could use data collected by the app for intelligence purposes or manipulate the algorithm for recommending content to influence public opinion, for example on political issues”.
This is especially dangerous, she said, given the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, which is “accompanied by an information war aimed at undermining support for Ukraine among EU and NATO countries”.
Against this background, she asked the European Commission whether its representatives were analysing the risks and threats to TikTok users “related in particular to disinformation campaigns and hybrid attacks”.
Earlier, the European Commission decided to ban employees from using the TikTok app on company electronic devices. According to the EC, the measure was taken in order to improve cybersecurity.
TikTok is also no longer allowed to be used on work devices by representatives of United States federal agencies. Such an order came from the White House Budget Office.
In addition, on 1 March, the US House Committee on Foreign Affairs approved a bill allowing the president to ban the Chinese social network from operating in the country.
In this connection, the Chinese government protested to the United States. According to Beijing, Washington is abusing state power to put unreasonable pressure on foreign companies.
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