20 Countries Have Banned TikTok, the United States Leads the Charge | Gita Blog Sport
Gitablogsport.com - TikTok, a globally popular short-video social media platform, is facing increasing scrutiny worldwide. At least 20 countries have either banned or restricted TikTok, citing concerns over national security, user privacy, and child protection. With over a billion active users globally, TikTok has often come under fire for data privacy issues, inappropriate content, and its potential influence on local culture and political dynamics.
United States Is the Most Vocal Opponent
The debate over banning TikTok in the United States has intensified. Following a hearing at the U.S. Supreme Court on Friday, January 10, 2025, a decision on the TikTok Ban Bill is expected by January 19, 2025. If the ban is upheld, more than 170 million users could be affected, including Indonesian diaspora content creators based in the U.S.
According to an official opinion from the U.S. Supreme Court released Saturday (January 18, 2025), TikTok users in the U.S. posted over 5.5 billion videos in 2023, which garnered more than 13 trillion views worldwide a staggering figure that underscores the app’s influence.
Countries That Have Banned or Restricted TikTok
Below is a complete list of countries that have either blocked or limited TikTok, either entirely or specifically on government devices:
1. India – The first country to officially ban TikTok in June 2020 due to national security concerns and rising tensions with China.
2. Pakistan – Has repeatedly blocked TikTok over content deemed immoral or against social norms.
3. Afghanistan – Under Taliban rule, TikTok was banned to prevent the spread of content considered incompatible with Islamic values.
4. Somalia – Banned TikTok amid fears the app was being used by extremist groups to spread propaganda.
5. Nepal – Cited cybersecurity risks and rising cases of online harassment linked to the platform.
6. Taiwan – Prohibited TikTok use on government devices due to concerns over data collection by China.
7. Albania – Followed other European nations by banning the app from official devices for cybersecurity reasons.
8. Canada – Banned TikTok on all federal government devices to protect sensitive data and user privacy.
9. Denmark – Restricted usage among civil servants due to potential threats to national data security.
10. France – Highlighted risks associated with foreign data access and the app’s impact on young people.
11. Netherlands – Banned TikTok on government devices due to its Chinese ownership and privacy concerns.
12. Norway – Advised officials against using the app and banned it from state devices over foreign data access threats.
13. New Zealand – Banned TikTok from government devices, especially within Parliament, due to data protection risks.
14. United Kingdom – Restricted TikTok on government-owned devices as part of national cybersecurity measures.
15. Latvia – Raised alarms about the app’s data gathering capabilities and potential access by foreign actors.
16. Austria – Imposed restrictions on public officials citing user privacy and national security risks.
17. Belgium – Blocked TikTok from government devices following reports of Chinese data surveillance.
18. Estonia – Took similar steps after cybersecurity authorities warned of data leakage threats.
19. Australia – Banned TikTok on federal devices to prevent Chinese government access to user data.
20. Bangladesh – Blocked TikTok due to content that contradicts local cultural and social values, especially concerning youth behavior.
A Growing Global Concern Over TikTok’s Influence
Although critics argue that these bans infringe on digital freedom, many governments defend their actions as essential to protecting their citizens’ data, national sovereignty, and cybersecurity. As technology continues to evolve and geopolitical tensions escalate, debates over the regulation of platforms like TikTok are expected to persist on the global stage.