The ABC is reviewing its use of TikTok following the federal government’s ban of the Chinese-owned social media app on government-issued devices.
The ban announced by the attorney general, Mark Dreyfus, on Tuesday only applies to non-corporate government entities, meaning a range of government-owned businesses and agencies are not subject to the ban, including the ABC, SBS, Australia Post and NBN Co.
However it is likely to have flow-on effects to government and non-government businesses.
A spokesperson for the ABC confirmed that in light of the ban, the ABC was reviewing its use of the platform.
“The ABC will review current use of the platform on ABC devices following the government’s decision to prohibit the TikTok app on devices issued by commonwealth departments and agencies,” a spokesperson said.
“The ABC has a suite of cybersecurity protocols, which include measures and policies relating to the use of social media applications on ABC devices.”
As with most media outlets, the ABC publishes news on TikTok among other social media platforms. The spokesperson said the ABC has “an ongoing dialogue” with the Australian Cyber Security Centre on threats and vulnerabilities, and will work with the government as more information about the ban is made available.
Australia Post has confirmed it is also “reviewing the TikTok direction and considering any potential implications”.
A spokesperson for NBN Co said it ceased using TikTok for corporate social media communications earlier this year and is reviewing the use of TikTok by employees on company-issued mobile devices.
SBS declined to comment on whether it was reviewing its use of the platform in light of the government’s decision.
The government’s protective security direction states TikTok “poses significant security and privacy risks to non-corporate commonwealth entities arising from extensive collection of user data and exposure to extrajudicial directions from a foreign government that conflict with Australian law”.
Exemptions are available for government entities which can demonstrate a “legitimate business reason … which necessitates the installation or ongoing presence of the application”. A legitimate business reason could include countering misinformation or disinformation, or “to reach key audiences to undertake marketing or public relations activity on behalf of the entity”.
All members of the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing network – Australia, Canada, the US, the UK and New Zealand – have now banned the app from government devices. France, Belgium and the European Commission have announced bans.
The Victorian and ACT governments have also announced they will impose similar bans.
Several federal government departments, including home affairs, foreign affairs and trade, education, finance, the National Disability Insurance Agency and the Australian Electoral Commission had already imposed bans within their departments, ahead of the government’s blanket announcement.
TikTok’s chief executive, Shou Zi Chew, in testimony before the US Congress last month, consistently denied the app shares data, spies on people or has connections with the Chinese Communist party.
TikTok’s Australia and New Zealand general manager, Lee Hunter, said TikTok should not be singled out.
“There is no evidence to suggest that TikTok is in any way a security risk to Australians and should not be treated differently to other social media platforms,” Hunter said in a statement. He said TikTok was “extremely disappointed” by the decision and it was “driven by politics, not fact”.
The opposition leader, Peter Dutton, said the Coalition would support government decisions to keep Australian citizens safe, and which were “in our national interest”.
“If the government has advice that it’s unsafe to have TikTok on those government phones then they’re acting on that advice and we would support that decision.”
