TikTok claims EU is keeping it in the dark about the staff phone ban

• TikTok has previously stated that data on its service cannot be accessed by Beijing.
• The app which is owned by the Chinese corporation ByteDance is drawing increased scrutiny from Western officials.
• Staff will also be asked to remove TikTok from personal mobile devices that have access to corporate services.

TikTok accused the European Commission on Friday of failing to consult it before banning the Chinese short video-sharing app on staff phones on cybersecurity grounds, a move that was quickly followed by another senior EU body.

The app, which is owned by the Chinese corporation ByteDance, is drawing increased scrutiny from Western officials, who are concerned that the Chinese government could use it to collect personal information. Beijing has consistently denied having such plans.

Staff will also be asked to remove TikTok from personal mobile devices that have access to corporate services, according to the EU executive and the EU Council, which bring together officials from member states to set policy goals.

TikTok, which has previously stated that data on its service cannot be accessed by Beijing, stated that neither institution informed or contacted it prior to their choices.

“So we are really operating under a cloud. And the lack of transparency and the lack of due process. Quite frankly one would expect, you know, some sort of engagement on this matter,” Reuters spoke with Caroline Greer, TikTok’s head of public policy and government relations.

She stated that she could not react to the bodies’ cybersecurity concerns because they had not been articulated.

The European Commission cited EU Industry Commissioner Thierry Breton’s remarks at a news conference on Thursday, in which he stated that the EU executive does not need to provide justifications for decisions made to maintain its proper functions.

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