WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — New Zealand lawmakers and different staff contained in the nation’s Parliament will likely be banned from having the TikTok app on their authorities telephones, officers stated Friday.

The ban, which takes impact on the finish of the month, follows related strikes in lots of different international locations.

Nonetheless, New Zealand’s ban will apply solely to about 500 folks within the parliamentary complicated, to not all authorities staff like bans within the U.S. and Britain. Different New Zealand companies might determine later to impose their very own bans.

International concern in regards to the app comes after warnings by the FBI and different companies that TikTok’s Chinese language guardian firm ByteDance might share TikTok person information — equivalent to shopping historical past, location and biometric identifiers — with China’s authoritarian authorities.

New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins stated he didn’t have TikTok on his cellphone.

“I’m not that hip and stylish,” he instructed reporters.

The New Zealand transfer got here on the recommendation of presidency cybersecurity consultants, stated Parliamentary Service Chief Govt Rafael Gonzalez-Montero.

He stated the app could be faraway from all gadgets with entry to the parliamentary community, though officers might make particular preparations for anyone who wanted TikTok to carry out their democratic duties.

“This choice has been made primarily based on our personal consultants’ evaluation and following dialogue with our colleagues throughout authorities and internationally,” Gonzalez-Montero stated in an announcement. “Primarily based on this data, the service has decided that the dangers are usually not acceptable within the present New Zealand parliamentary surroundings.”

Hipkins stated cybersecurity recommendation got here from New Zealand’s intelligence company, the Authorities Communications Safety Bureau. He stated New Zealand didn’t take a blanket method to all authorities staff, and it will be as much as every division or company to make cybersecurity selections.

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