Fine Gael MEP Colm Markey has urged the Oireachtas to follow the example set by the European Parliament and ban TikTok from staff devices.
The Midlands-North-West representative said he has serious concerns about the security risks posed by the Chinese owned app.
On Tuesday, the European Parliament told MEPs and staff to uninstall the app from all corporate devices, in alignment with the Commission and Council.
MEP Markey commented, “The three EU institutions have banned TikTok due to cybersecurity concerns and I believe the Oireachtas should follow suit. TDs, Senators and staff should be told to uninstall the app from all official devices until we have guarantees that private data is not being sent to China.
“As public servants, we have a duty to protect sensitive information from unauthorised access. TikTok’s data collection practices are a cause for concern and we cannot afford to take any chances with the security of our information,” said Mr Markey.
Markey and said Ireland needs to be ahead of the curve on the issue.
“The United States and Canada have recently issued orders banning the use of TikTok on government devices while Denmark’s parliament has urged politicians and staff to do the same. Ireland is the tech capital of Europe and we should be taking a lead on this issue.
“I recognise the economic benefits of TikTok’s presence in Ireland but security comes first. In the current geopolitical climate, we must err on the side of caution. Once we have proper assurances about data sharing, we can reverse any ban”, he concluded.
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