TikTok could be banned on official NSW government devices in line with federal ban

A TikTok ban on official NSW government devices could impact Premier Chris Minns who has over 10,000 followers on the Chinese-owned social media platform.

Social media app TikTok could be banned from NSW government devices in line with a federal ban imposed by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

A NSW government spokeswoman said the state government is in “continuing discussions” with the Commonwealth over the Chinese-owned platform.

The ban could impact Premier Chris Minns, who has 10,500 followers on his official TikTok channel.

Former Premier Dominic Perrottet also had his own TikTok channel with almost 9,000 followers.

“The NSW government considers guidance for social media and messaging apps in line with the Australian Signals Directorate’s Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) advice,” the spokeswoman told The Daily Telegraph.

NSW government is considering a TikTok ban. Photo: AFP

“Cyber Security NSW is continuing discussions with the Commonwealth regarding its updated position on TikTok and federal government devices.”

During the election campaign, both Mr Minns and Mr Perrottet were also active on Chinese social media app WeChat, including paying for Chinese-language election ads.

The Albanese government signed off on a government-wide ban on the social media app following a review by the Department of Home Affairs into the security risks posed by the Chinese-owned app.

Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus confirmed the ban on Tuesday after receiving a report that raised security concerns around the Chinese-owned platform.

“After receiving advice from intelligence and security agencies, today I authorised the Secretary of the Attorney-General’s Department to issue a mandatory direction under the Protective Security Policy Framework to prohibit the TikTok app on devices issued by Commonwealth departments and agencies,” he said.

“Exemptions will only be granted on a case-by-case basis and with appropriate security mitigations in place.”

Mr Dreyfus said the government had recently received the Review into Foreign Interference through Social Media Applications and confirmed recommendations from the report “remain under consideration”.

Australia’s Five Eyes security pact partners have already banned the use of the app on government phones, with the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and New Zealand recently outlawing the social media platform from official devices.

Premier Chris Minns will take advice from the commonwealth. Picture: NCA Newswire / Gaye Gerard

Former NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet has about 9,000 TikTok followers. Picture: NCA Newswire/ Monique Harmer

A widespread social media review was commissioned by Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil last year, in-part prompted by security concerns that TikTok – which is owned by Chinese parent company Byte Dance – could be forced to hand over Australian data to Beijing under China’s national security laws.

TikTok Australia and New Zealand general manager Lee Hunter said the news of the widespread-ban had yet to be confirmed to him, but if true would be driven by “politics, not fact”.

TikTok maintains there is no evidence to suggest the app constitutes a security concern.

Originally published as TikTok could be banned on official NSW government devices in line with federal ban