Quebec bans TikTok from government phones

The Quebec government followed suit at the federal level on Monday evening, announcing a ban on installing TikTok on government phones starting Tuesday.

• Read more: Ottawa has banned TikTok from government phones since Tuesday

• Read more: Social media ‘extremely dangerous’ for young people

“Information security and the protection of data is an absolute priority for the Government of Quebec, which is why we are adopting this preventive measure,” declared Eric Gair, Minister of Cyber ​​Security and Du Numérique. Evening press release.

All government-owned cell phones used by government employees are affected by the new measure, which copies the Ottawa order issued Monday morning.

“In light of the studies and analysis carried out regarding the use of TikTok, it seems necessary for us to apply the precautionary principle and not allow the installation and use of this app,” Minister Cairo added.

Quebec could not say Monday evening whether the new measure affects the cellphones of elected provincial officials.

“Further details about the instructions and their scope will be communicated tomorrow”, the statement was limited to referring to the Cyber ​​Security and Digital Ministry.

By mid-evening, the TikTok accounts of Prime Minister François Legault and some of his ministers, including Sonia Lebel (Treasury), Jean-François Roberge (French language, Canadian relations and secularism) and Mathieu Lacombe (Culture and Communications). was more accessible.

At the federal level, the decision affected government employees, but specifically led to elected conservatives — including President Pierre Poilivre — deleting their TikTok accounts.

Public service employees with non-government cell phones can continue to use the short video sharing app.

“The use of social media for personal use and non-government devices remains a personal and considered choice,” the Ministry of Cyber ​​Security and Digital said.

The Canadian and US governments are concerned about what the Chinese company behind TikTok can do with data collected when using the application.