Victoria’s public servants told time’s up for TikTok on their government devices

The Andrews government has ordered the state’s public servants to remove TikTok from their government-issued devices for security reasons, months after a ban was first flagged.

Public servants must now remove TikTok from their government issued devices, months after the government first flagged a ban. Picture: Tim Pascoe

Public servants have been officially ordered to now remove TikTok from their government issued devices, months after the government first flagged a ban.

In a memo to all departmental staff, acting secretary of the Department of Premier and Cabinet, Emma Cassar, said a new policy guideline is now in place preventing the installation of the Chinese-owned social media app.

“From this point forward, if the TikTok application is installed on a device issued by us or another Victorian Public Sector employer, you need to remove it,” Ms Cassar said in the memo, dated Friday July 21, read.

“You must also not attempt to download and install TikTok on a government-issued mobile device.”

Acting secretary of the Department of Premier and Cabinet, Emma Cassar, says a new policy guideline prevents the installation of the Chinese-owned social media app. Picture: Ian Currie

In April this year, the Andrews government confirmed it would follow the Commonwealth government advice to ban the popular app on government phones due to security concerns.

Premier Daniel Andrews, a prolific social media user, deleted his TikTok account which had nearly 110,000 followers and 1.6m likes.

Ms Cassar said in line with government policy, the department had also developed a new policy aimed to improve the cybersecurity of Victorian government systems and data.

TikTok can still be used on government phones in some instances where a person has been granted an exemption for a “legitimate business reason”.

Public servants must now remove TikTok from their government issued devices, months after the government first flagged a ban. Picture: Tim Pascoe

“Legitimate business reasons may include the use of TikTok for the performance of legislated or regulatory functions, public communications, marketing and engagement or research,” Ms Cassar said.

According to the memo, the Department’s Information Security team will develop mitigation strategies for people who have received permission to download the app.

This will include having TikTok installed on a separate standalone device without connection to official or classified information.

Other mitigations must also be put in place, including ensuring metadata and any personal identifying content has been removed.

Ms Cassar, who headed up Victoria’s hotel quarantine program during the Covid pandemic, was appointed as a deputy secretary within the Department of Premier and Cabinet in March this year.