Total List of Countries Where TikTok is Banned

TikTok has grown in popularity in recent years and has become a cultural and social phenomenon. Its short videos, creative content and user-friendly platform attract the attention of millions of people around the world. But as the platform grows in popularity, so does the discussion and scrutiny surrounding it.

Various governments, regulators, and security experts have raised many concerns about data privacy, national security, and the potential for misuse of the platform’s complex algorithms. These concerns have led countries to impose restrictions and bans on TikTok, sparking complex social and geopolitical debates about the platform’s business practices.

TikTok is fundamentally a social networking app created by Chinese company ByteDance. Since its launch in 2016, it has more than 1 billion users and has become a hub for entertainment, education and even political activity.

Although TikTok has more than 2 billion users worldwide, its relationship with China remains controversial. Concerns have been raised, especially in countries with tense relations with China. Critics argue the app’s data collection methods could give the Chinese government access to private user data.

Additionally, TikTok has been criticized for its content moderation policies, with experts claiming the platform is responsible for the spread of political bias, censorship and disinformation. Governments around the world are trying to balance the app’s economic benefits and entertainment appeal with alleged privacy and security threats.

This has led to the emergence of a series of laws against TikTok that represent the concerns of participating countries, ranging from complete bans to partial restrictions.

Below is a list of countries where TikTok is banned. Each country has important explanations for why it banned the platform.

Recently, the United States also plans to ban the app due to privacy concerns, and TikTok is awaiting a ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court.

List of countries where TikTok is banned

Below is a list of countries that have partially or fully banned the popular TikTok app. Each country has its reasons for the ban, which are as follows:

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Reasons behind TikTok ban

Afghanistan

The Taliban leadership has banned TikTok since 2022, as well as the video game PUBG, to protect young people from being “misled.”

Australia

TikTok is banned on federally issued devices following recommendations from intelligence and security agencies.

Belgium

TikTok has been banned indefinitely from federal government devices due to concerns over cybersecurity, privacy and misinformation.

Canada

TikTok is banned from federal government devices due to privacy and security risks. The app has been removed and employees are prohibited from downloading it.

Denmark

The Department of Defense banned the use of TikTok on work phones, citing security concerns and the app’s limited work-related needs.

European Union

EU institutions including the European Parliament, Commission and Council have banned the use of TikTok on employee devices and recommended deleting TikTok from personal devices.

France

Government employees are banned from using TikTok and other social media apps on their work phones due to inadequate data security measures.

India

TikTok was banned nationwide in 2020 due to privacy and security concerns following a border conflict with China. The ban becomes permanent in 2021.

Indonesia

TikTok’s online retail functionality is banned to protect small businesses, but the app itself can still be used for other purposes.

Latvia

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs bans the use of TikTok on smartphones. The foreign minister deleted his personal TikTok account.

Netherlands

The Dutch government banned the use of TikTok on work devices, blocking apps from countries with offensive cyber programs targeting Dutch interests.

Nepal

TikTok has been banned nationwide for damaging “social harmony” and spreading “indecent content.”

New Zealand

Lawmakers and parliamentary staff are banned from using TikTok on their work phones, following advice from cybersecurity experts.

Norway

Government employees and parliamentary staff are prohibited from using TikTok on work devices due to security concerns. Municipal staff in Oslo and Bergen also had to delete the app.

Pakistan

Since 2020, TikTok has been temporarily banned multiple times for promoting immoral content.

somalia

TikTok was banned along with Telegram and 1XBET due to concerns about extremist content and offensive material.

Taiwan

TikTok and other Chinese-made software are banned from public sector devices due to national security risks.

U.K.

TikTok is banned from devices used by government ministers, civil servants and parliamentary staff due to security concerns.

USA

TikTok is banned from federal devices, systems, and many state governments. Congress and the armed forces also banned its use.

As the debate over the impact of social media platforms continues, TikTok’s case highlights the need for transparent policies and global cooperation. Stories of its acceptance and rejection across the globe remind us of the complex interplay between technology, policy and society in the digital age.

Read | US ban on TikTok: What’s happening and what happens next?