WARSAW, Poland – Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Affairs Krzysztof Gawkowski advised against installing TikTok on government devices. During an interview on Polish Radio Program 1, he emphasized the potential risks associated with the app’s data processing practices.
Gawkowski cautioned that while there are no current plans to ban TikTok or any other platform in Poland, he strongly discourages its use on work devices. He pointed out that various platforms, not just TikTok, collect and process user data in ways that might be harmful. He stated, “Different platforms process their data differently, and we do not know all the details. Therefore, work devices should not have such applications installed.”
Cybersecurity Threats
The Deputy Prime Minister also highlighted an increase in cyberattacks since the start of the European Parliament election campaign, particularly targeting governmental and local administration institutions. He attributed these attacks to attempts at destabilizing EU countries ahead of the elections, suggesting that they are conducted at the behest of Russia. Gawkowski remarked, “Poland is in a kind of cold war with Russia in the digital space.”
Legislative Context
The discussion comes in the wake of the U.S. Congress passing a bill requiring ByteDance, TikTok’s Chinese parent company, to sell the app due to concerns over data security and potential misuse for surveillance and influence operations. ByteDance has contested this legislation, claiming it violates free speech rights.
Gawkowski’s warning underscores the ongoing global concerns about data security and the potential risks associated with popular social media platforms, especially in the context of increasing geopolitical tensions and cybersecurity threats.
