The risks surrounding security are the reason why Region Västerbotten deleted the social media app Tiktok from approximately 5,000 service phones this week. Going forward, more apps may be banned with similar reasoning.
– The reason is that Tiktok widely collects data that can be transferred to Chinese authorities, says Johannes Hörnberg, CIO and director of operations for the center for information technology and medical technology, Region Västerbotten, to the newspaper Folkbladet.
Regular evaluations
Region Västerbotten is currently mapping which apps may be risky from a security point of view, and during the spring apps will be successively blocked and removed from the region’s approximately 5,000 service phones.
– We have a responsibility for the security of all the region’s employees and the entire region’s IT security and information security, where we regularly carry out evaluations, says Johannes Hörnberg.
Tiktok security risk
Tiktok is currently under the EU’s scrutiny due to possible shortcomings in, among other things, protecting minors, and has previously been suspected of leaking personal data to China.
– It has been identified as a security risk because it collects data that can be transferred to foreign authorities, says Johannes Hörnberg.
Johannes Hörberg tells Folkbladet that they are not currently looking at removing apps such as Facebook or Instagram, but that the situation may change if there are signs that data from these apps is also being disseminated to foreign authorities.
February 22, 2024Updated February 22, 2024Reporter Tim LefflerSecurityPhoto Adobe Stock