City
Epaper

US Army bans soldiers from using TikTok

By IANS | Updated: January 2, 2020 16:15 IST

The US Army has banned service members from using the Chinese-owned short video-making app TikTok on government-issued phones citing security concerns.

Open in App

"It is considered a cyber threat," Lt Col Robin Ochoa, a US Army spokesperson told US-based news portal Military.com. "We do not allow it on government phones."

The move comes amid ongoing worries that the video app could compromise national security or be used to influence or snoop on Americans.

TikTok has seen nearly 1.5 billion downloads globally and the US market with 37.6 million downloads is at third sport, after India and China.

The US Army has not banned personnel from using TikTok on their personal phones but they have been recommended that service members use caution if they received random or unfamiliar text messages.

Last month, the US Navy and Defense Department told its members not to download the app and delete it from government-issued devices if it was already installed.

According to The Verge, Beijing-based company ByteDance has been under scrutiny from the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) after lawmakers demanded an investigation to see whether the Chinese government can collect users' data or control the content that is shared.

To recall, TikTok became the first Chinese-owned app to reach first place in the US Apple App Store last November.

Its servers are not based in China but rather in countries where the app is available.

( With inputs from IANS )

Tags: Us ArmyUs NavychinaDefense Department
Open in App

Related Stories

InternationalTyphoon Ragasa Live Tracker Map: Deadly Cyclonic Storm Nears Vietnam After Wreaking Havoc in China, Hong Kong and Taiwan; Check Real-Time Status

CricketRashid Khan-Led Afghanistan Beat Hong Kong by 94 Runs in Asia Cup 2025 Opener (VIDEO)

InternationalPM Narendra Modi, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin Seen Interacting at SCO Summit 2025 in China

OpinionsChina’s Move... Fictator’s Fortune!

InternationalChina SCO Summit 2025: Meet Xiao He, Humanoid Robot, Designed to Assist During Tianjin Summit (Watch)

टेकमेनिया Realted Stories

TechnologyTRAI releases consultation paper on auction of radio frequency spectrum

TechnologyHigh carb, saturated fat, low protein intake driving diabetes, obesity in India: ICMR study

TechnologyLG India IPO to open on Oct 7, parent firm offloads over 10 crore shares

TechnologyCommerce Secretary unveils skill courses on tea sommeliers, tasting

TechnologyIndian pharma exports expected to cross $30bn this year, rise sharply by 2030: Minister