Military men have been prohibited from using TikTok

Military personnel in the Philippines have been barred from using TikTok due to concerns regarding potential espionage by China. Col. Francel Margareth Padilla, spokesperson for the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), announced the prohibition, emphasizing that soldiers must refrain from accessing the China-linked application on both personal and government-issued mobile devices.

Padilla highlighted the cybersecurity implications associated with TikTok, pointing out its origins in China and the permissions it requests upon installation, such as access to the microphone and camera. She expressed concerns that these permissions could be exploited to monitor users’ activities and eavesdrop on conversations.

The decision to ban TikTok among military personnel was made some time ago, although it was not widely publicized. The National Security Council had previously raised the issue of prohibiting TikTok use due to security risks.

Padilla clarified that the directive is unrelated to the Philippines’ current tensions with China in the West Philippine Sea. She emphasized the broader risks posed by free applications like TikTok, as users often grant permissions without fully understanding the implications.

Padilla, a cybersecurity expert, cautioned against the indiscriminate use of free applications, noting their potential to access sensitive information and compromise privacy. She urged users to exercise caution and read the permissions requested by such apps before installing them.

News: Military men have been prohibited from using TikTok