Civil servants are no longer allowed to use TikTok, but that doesn’t mean the application will disappear from the DPR. After all, the ban on apps that are hugely popular among young people doesn’t apply to politicians. However, the discomfort and concerns about privacy and Chinese interference are growing.
Secretary of State Alexandra van Huffelen (D66) ruled last week on AIVD’s advice that civil servants would no longer be allowed to use TikTok on their work phones because of “the increased risk of espionage.” Also, new work phones are set up so that only pre-approved apps can be installed on them.
Therefore the ban on civil servants does not apply to political parties or cabinet members. Parties such as GroenLinks, BoerBurgerBeweging (BBB), Forum Demokrasi (FvD), and VVD enthusiastically used the app during provincial election campaigns. In the past, individual lawmakers such as Jesse Klaver (GroenLinks) and Rob Jetten (D66) have also used the app, but they have abandoned it. Thierry Baudet (FvD) is still active.
GroenLinks and VVD are the most popular parties on TikTok, with the two amassing around 1 million likes on the videos they create. GroenLinks leader Jesse Klaver told Editie NL in early March that he had no intention of stopping using the app: “Lots of young people are using it. We think it’s important for them to be informed about politics so they get involved.”
That attitude has not changed to date. A spokesperson for GroenLinks said the party will continue to use TikTok to reach and inform young voters. The party does support banning civil servants’ working telephones. At GroenLinks there is also a policy to exclude apps from work phones. It was also pointed out to the party that the problem with social media lies not only with TikTok, but also with Facebook and Twitter, for example, and that strict European regulations are needed. GroenLinks is campaigning for this in the European Parliament.
@jesse.klaver Rutte deletes text messages from his phone almost every day. It may be funny for this TikTok, but it’s also serious business. Deleted text messages, no active reminders, lost meeting minutes. #Rutte always trying my best not to give any disclosures. Deleting these text messages may even be against the law. We’ve asked for debate. #LeftGreen #GroenLinksopTikTok #JesseKlaver ♬ Vonneke pepepe – prince fabienne
Various political parties have been working for some time to completely phase out the use of TikTok in The Hague. Coalition parties D66 and ChristenUnie, along with Party for the Animals (PvdD), are proposing a motion to have political parties at least temporarily stop using the app.
“TikTok offers insufficient protection for children and is highly vulnerable to addiction, violates privacy laws and intends to pass user data to China, which also makes it a security issue,” said ChristenUnie. Secretary of State van Hufflen thinks the proposed banning of TikTok is too much.
MP Nico Drost (Christian Union) was pleased that Foreign Minister van Hufflen took action and called banning civil servants a “good first step.” He thinks it’s good when political parties try to reach young voters, but TikTok is not the right platform for this, he says: “Political parties should set a good example and therefore stop using apps like TikTok.”
In recent weeks, concerns have been raised mainly about China’s collection of user data, but app disinformation and addiction vulnerability are also issues that most young users have to deal with. In the United States (US), United Kingdom, and Belgium, TikTok is also banned for government officials.
Also read:
The cabinet asked civil servants to remove TikTok from their phones
Dutch civil servants who installed the Chinese application TikTok on their office cell phones should immediately delete it.
“Hipster-friendly creator. Music guru. Proud student. Bacon buff. Avid web lover. Social media specialist. Gamer.”
