Denmark calls on lawmakers, parliament staff to delete TikTok from staff devices over ‘spy risk’

The Danish parliament acted after an assessment from the country’s Centre for Cyber Security, which had said there was a risk of espionage

The Chinese-owned app is facing intensifying scrutiny from Europe and the US over security and data privacy

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TikTok is facing intensifying scrutiny from Europe and the US over security and data privacy. Photo: The Canadian Press via AP

Published: 7:30pm, 28 Feb 2023

The Danish parliament on Tuesday urged lawmakers and employees with the 179-member assembly against having TikTok on work phones as a cybersecurity measure, saying “there is a risk of espionage.”

The popular video-sharing app, which is Chinese-owned, faces intensifying scrutiny from Europe and the US over security and data privacy amid worries that TikTok could be used to promote pro-Beijing views or sweep up users’ information.

Danish parliamentary Speaker Søren Gade said that an email had been sent out on Tuesday to lawmakers and employees with “a strong recommendation that you delete the TikTok app if you have previously installed it.”

The assembly acted after an assessment from Denmark’s Centre for Cyber Security, which had said there was a risk of espionage. The agency is part of Denmark’s foreign intelligence service.

“We adapt accordingly,” Gade said in a statement.

It wasn’t immediately known how many Danish lawmakers have TikTok installed. In recent days, several politicians have publicly announced that they had deleted the app from their work phone for cybersecurity reasons.