Canada Bans WeChat Applications And Kaspersky Antivirus Programs On Government Mobile Devices

WeChat is prohibited from dio Canadian government devices. (photo: twitter @wechat)

JAKARTA - Canada on Monday, October 30 banned messaging applications from China, WeChat, and Russia's Kaspersky antiviral programs on mobile devices issued by the government. This is due to privacy and security risks, but states that government information is not threatened.

The ban was announced following an assessment by the head of a Canadian information officer stating that Tencent's WeChat and a Moscow-based Kaspersky app "proved unacceptable levels of risk to privacy and security," read a statement from the Canadian State Treasury Council, which oversees public administration.

Kaspersky expressed his surprise and disappointment, and that the decision was taken without warning or an opportunity for the company to respond to government concerns. Meanwhile, WeChat did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Canada's Treasury Council said it had no evidence that government information had been compromised, but data collection methods from the app provide significant access to device content, and the risk of its use is "clear."

"The decision to remove and block the WeChat and Kaspersky apps was taken to ensure that Canadian government networks and data remain secure and protected and in line with our international partner approach," the statement said.

The app will be removed from mobile devices issued by the government on Monday, and users will be blocked from downloading them in the future.

Canada in February banned TikTok, a short video app owned by Chinese company Bytedance, from government-issued devices due to concerns about privacy and security.