Regarding the Banning of TikTok on US Government Devices, FCC: We Need to Follow India's Footsteps

Commissioner of the United States Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Brendan Carr. (photo: twitter @BrendanCarrFC)

JAKARTA - Commissioner of the United States Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Brendan Carr appreciated India's move by banning TikTok in his country two and a half years ago.

According to Carr, TikTok operates as a sophisticated surveillance tool and said banning the social media app was the next step the US would take to secure communications networks.

Carr also expressed similar concerns that China could use sensitive and non-public data obtained from TikTok for extortion, espionage, campaigning and monitoring of foreign influence.

“We need to follow India's lead more broadly to get rid of other malicious apps as well,” said Carr.

Carr's statement describes recent events in the US. Several US states have largely banned TikTok from being used on government-issued mobile devices due to security concerns with the video-sharing app made by China-based ByteDance.

The new rules last week were approved by the US House of Representatives (DPR) and also ordered its staff and lawmakers to comply.

Citing TechCrunch, Tuesday, January 3, India has banned hundreds of apps including TikTok, PUBG Mobile, Battlegrounds Mobile India, and UC Browser, which is affiliated with China in the past two years amid skirmishes on the borders of the two neighboring countries.

New Delhi said it had banned the app because it posed a threat to India's national security and defense, ultimately violating India's sovereignty and integrity.

TikTok has more than 200 million monthly active users in India and other South Asian countries, the largest international markets before the ban.

“India's strong leadership has been very informative and helpful as we have debated banning TikTok in the US,” said Carr.

"For those who argue that there is no way to ban apps, India is an example of a country that has done it and done it successfully," he added.