TikTok Proposed to Be Completely Blocked in Ukraine: Main Reasons Named

The social network TikTok is increasingly becoming a subject of discussion not only due to its popularity among young people but also because of security concerns. Against the backdrop of the full-scale war in Ukraine, there is growing concern about the possible use of the platform to spread Russian propaganda, collect user data, and leak information that may be of interest to the enemy. With these arguments, Ukrainians are urging the government to consider the possibility of a complete ban on the service within the country.

The Cabinet of Ministers is proposed to block TikTok

A petition No. 41/010384-26ep has been submitted to the Cabinet of Ministers calling for urgent measures to restrict (block) access and ban the activities of the social network TikTok, owned by the Chinese company ByteDance, on the territory of Ukraine.

The appeal states that in the conditions of Russia’s full-scale armed aggression, the issue of information security is an integral part of the country’s defense capability. According to the petition’s author, the TikTok platform currently poses a direct threat to Ukraine’s national security.

Why it is proposed to ban TikTok

One of the main arguments is the use of the platform as a tool for disinformation and information-psychological operations.

The petition claims that Russian special services massively use TikTok to spread disinformation and propaganda, to divide Ukrainian society, discredit the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and disrupt mobilization efforts. It is also noted that the platform’s algorithms are vulnerable to artificial manipulation and promotion of hostile content.

Another argument is the risks of sensitive information leakage. The petition’s author notes that through the platform, cases of spreading information about the movement of Ukrainian military equipment, locations of air defense forces, and consequences of Russian shelling have been repeatedly recorded. In addition, the appeal points out that the collection of personal data of users by ByteDance creates risks of transferring it to third parties.

The petition also draws attention to the possible negative impact of the platform on children and youth. In particular, it mentions that TikTok’s algorithms may contribute to the spread of destructive content, dangerous challenges, and calls for self-sacrifice or illegal actions among minors. The author also believes that the platform does not provide adequate moderation of such content, which can harm the mental and physical health of the younger generation.

The petition refers to the experience of other countries

The appeal also states that restrictions or bans on TikTok due to national security threats and data leakage risks have already been introduced or are being implemented in the USA, European Union countries, Canada, the United Kingdom, and other partner states.

What decisions are proposed to the government

The Cabinet of Ministers is urged to:

• initiate consideration by the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine of the issue of introducing personal special economic and other restrictive measures (sanctions) against ByteDance and the TikTok platform;
• instruct the Security Service of Ukraine and the State Service of Special Communications and Information Protection of Ukraine to develop and implement mechanisms for technical blocking of access to the TikTok service on the territory of Ukraine;
• amend legislation to prohibit the use of the TikTok application on devices of civil servants, military personnel, and critical infrastructure workers.

In conclusion, the petition’s author emphasizes that protecting Ukraine’s information space is one of the key elements of protecting citizens and the state during wartime.

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