Kosovo bans TikTok from government institutions, citing security risks

Kosovo authorities said on Friday that government institutions would be banned from using the popular social media app TikTok, citing security risks.

The move is the latest in a series of policies and threats targeting the Chinese app by governments around the world based on concerns that Chinese authorities could access personal data.

“All public institutions that own and manage state communications networks are obliged to impose the necessary technical restrictions to prevent the operation of the services of the TikTok social network in official workplaces,” Prime Minister Albin Kurti’s office said in a statement.

The statement cited “cyber threats” as the reason for blocking the app.

The new policy also states that government employees must remove the app from their work phones and other work devices.

The decision came months after the U.S. government gave TikTok an ultimatum: either split from its Chinese owner ByteDance or be banned over concerns that the app could be used to influence Americans.

US lawmakers have said TikTok could be used by the Chinese government for espionage and propaganda purposes as long as it remains owned by ByteDance.