Taiwan proclaims TikTok to be a “dangerous product” and a national security concern

NEW DELHI: Days after the US enacted a measure to outlaw the Chinese social media site, Central News agency Taiwan claimed that Taiwan hailed TikTok as “a dangerous product” and called it a national security threat.

Taiwan’s minister of digital affairs, Audrey Tang, said, “Taiwan has classified TikTok as a dangerous product.”
According to Tang, TikTok’s affiliation with foreign foes aligns with the US viewpoint, which regards the site as potentially dangerous for national security.

According to Taiwanese standards, she said, any product that may be directly or indirectly controlled by foreign enemies poses a danger to the security of national information and communication.
According to Tang, Taiwan’s ministry of digital affairs has proposed amending the Cyber Security Management Act to address issues with indirect foreign influence that were brought up in the US House bill.
The use of TikTok is already prohibited in Taiwanese official buildings and organisations.
“The final decision will be made by the Cabinet after extensive consideration of opinions in the various sectors,” Tang added, raising the prospect that the prohibition may also apply to public places, non-governmental organisations, and schools.
On March 13, the US House of Representatives passed a measure giving ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, which is controlled by China, about six months to sell off the app’s US assets or risk being banned.
By a vote of 352-65, the law was approved with the backing of both Democrats and Republicans.