• iconNews
  • videos
  • entertainment
  • Home
  • News
    • UK News
    • US News
    • Australia
    • Ireland
    • World News
    • Weird News
    • Viral News
    • Sport
    • Technology
    • Science
    • True Crime
    • Travel
  • Entertainment
    • Celebrity
    • TV & Film
    • Netflix
    • Music
    • Gaming
    • TikTok
  • LAD Originals
    • Say Maaate to a Mate
    • Daily Ladness
    • Lad Files
    • UOKM8?
    • FreeToBe
    • Extinct
    • Citizen Reef
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • UNILAD
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube

LAD Entertainment

YouTube

LAD Stories

Submit Your Content
TikTok Looking At Banning Irish Politicians From Having Their App On Their Phones

Home> News

Published 16:35 23 Mar 2023 GMT

TikTok Looking At Banning Irish Politicians From Having Their App On Their Phones

TikTok may be banned on the phones of Irish politicians as government cybersecurity experts examine the security risks posed by the app.

Conor Paterson

Conor Paterson

The widely popular social media app TikTok may be banned on the phones of Irish politicians and senior government officials as government cybersecurity experts examine the security risks posed by the Chinese-owned social media giant.

Over a fifth of Ireland’s population are active TikTok users and it is currently the fastest-growing social media app in the country. Not only that, but the app is finding a growing popularity among Irish politicians who aim to reach a new, younger audience.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has 4,530 followers and Tánaiste Micheál Martin has 9,154 followers, while the current Minister for Justice, Simon Harris, has a whopping 91,700 followers. This may become a thing of the past, however, as the Daily Mirror has reported that TikTok could be banned on the phones of Irish politicians.

It is expected that government cybersecurity experts will soon announce new guidelines for ministers’ work phones after reviewing the security risks posed by TikTok and other social media apps.

Advert

Ireland is not alone in such a review of the security risks of TikTok. Staff at the EU commission have been ordered to delete the app from their devices and it is banned from the phones of politicians and senior government officials in countries such as the United States, Britain, New Zealand, Denmark and Belgium.

The issue has been a particularly hot topic in the United States. Despite one in three Americans using the app, a total ban on TikTok from operating in the US has long been mooted. This is due to the app's parent company, ByteDance, having the Chinese government as its main shareholder.

Speaking to reports outside Leinster House yesterday, the Minister of State with responsibility for Public Procurement, eGovernment and Circular Economy, Ossian Smyth said “On the questions about Tik Tok, the National Cybersecurity Centre has recently issued guidance on the use of handheld devices across the public sector, how to minimise risk on that. And more detailed guidance is going to be issued in the coming weeks.”

He added “If you’re talking about risky apps, there’s more than one risky app out there. The fact is that every government restricts how its mobile phones are used, the ones that are issued to its staff.”

The development has shone a spotlight on Ireland’s relationship with the tech giant that already employs thousands of people in the country, most of whom are based in its EU headquarters in Dublin. Also, it is currently finalising plans to add a second

Advert

data centre in Ireland and is continuing its efforts to base its European TikTok user data in the country.

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: Ireland, TikTok, Politics

Conor Paterson
Conor Paterson

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

2 hours ago
3 hours ago
  • 2 hours ago

    How man declared 'legally dead' walked into a courtroom to apply for a driving license

    And the astonishing part is, the judge said he was still legally dead

    News
  • 2 hours ago

    Doctor issues warning about major mistake millions make while driving that is ‘slowing your brain down’

    Most cars have this button on the dashboard - but be mindful of how long you're using it for

    News
  • 2 hours ago

    Expert reveals disturbing reason why you should never tell your dark secrets to ChatGPT

    Perhaps a set of code using data it's mined from the internet archive isn't your BFF?

    News
  • 3 hours ago

    The dark happenings behind the scenes of ChatGPT that many people don't know about

    In 2023, OpenAI was subjected to controversy following a TIME magazine investigation into ChatGPT

    News
  • What happened as Garron Noone deletes TikTok and Instagram after Conor McGregor immigration video
  • NSW is banning children from having mobile phones at public schools
  • Dad of sisters who are most followed on TikTok speaks out about their next career move after US ban
  • Expert exposes the ‘big lie’ people tell about alcohol that is having a big impact on their health