The N-VA wants to ban apps such as TikTok in the Ministry of Defence

The digital world has become a reflection of prevailing global tensions, and geopolitical conflicts are being extended in cyberspace. Online espionage is a real risk. For this reason, the N-VA is submitting a proposal to compile a list of prohibited apps at the Ministry of Defence. “Specifically, this concerns apps such as TikTok,” says MP Theo Francken. “This popular app is owned by the Chinese company ByteDance, which has close ties to the Chinese government. You cannot afford such a security risk at the Ministry of Defence.”

TikTok has been in the crosshairs of Western governments and security services for some time now. In November 2022, the company had to admit that employees in China had access to users’ personal data. They also located journalists who had been critical of the regime. Several countries are now taking measures, including the US, Great Britain and the Netherlands, where the app is banned or restricted for parliamentarians, navy personnel and government personnel.

A new generation of software with a potential security risk

Our security services and certainly our military cannot be left behind here. And not just regarding TikTok; a whole new generation of software and commercial applications poses a risk to the security of sensitive information and Ministry of Defence communication networks. “It is therefore necessary to prohibit Defence personnel from using applications and software with a potential security risk. Our bill places the task of identifying that software with the General Intelligence and Security Service (Algemene Dienst Inlichting en Veiligheid, ADIV; the Defence intelligence service), after which they are included on a list of prohibited software and applications,” says Theo Francken.

The ban also applies to the Minister of Defence

The ban also applies to the Minister herself and the cabinet, given the close connection and sharing of high-level sensitive data between the Minister of Defence, ministerial policy bodies and the Ministry of Defence. “I am aware that TikTok is a popular app with which you can reach many people and where you can also see and share a lot of entertaining videos. However, the Ministry of Defence cannot run the risk that China is watching through this medium. It is therefore important that everyone in the Ministry of Defence, from the soldiers to the Minister, remove that app from their phone,” Theo Francken concludes.