In March 2023, New Zealand's Parliamentary Service told everyone with access to the parliamentary network to remove TikTok from their devices, citing cybersecurity risks tied to the app's Chinese ownership. It made New Zealand one of dozens of governments worldwide to restrict the app on official devices that year.
Here's what really happened, why it happened, and how New Zealand's move compared to bans elsewhere.
New Zealand's Parliamentary Service announced on March 17, 2023 that TikTok would be banned from all devices with access to the parliamentary network.
The ban took effect by the end of March 2023, giving affected users about two weeks to remove the app.
The decision covered roughly 500 people working in and around New Zealand's parliamentary complex, including MPs and staff.
Parliamentary Service chief executive Rafael Gonzalez-Montero said the decision followed consultation with cybersecurity experts and officials from other countries.
The stated concern was that TikTok's Chinese owner, ByteDance, could be compelled under Chinese law to share user data with the government, posing a security risk on devices connected to parliament's network.
Exceptions were allowed for staff who needed TikTok to carry out their public duties, such as engaging with constituents on the platform.
New Zealand's ban applied only to parliamentary devices, not to the general public or to all government agencies nationwide.
The United Kingdom banned TikTok from government devices just days before New Zealand, in mid-March 2023.
The United States banned TikTok on federal government devices starting in early 2023 following a directive from the Office of Management and Budget.
Canada and Australia also banned TikTok from government-issued devices around the same period, citing similar security concerns.
The European Parliament, European Commission, and the Council of the European Union each barred staff from having TikTok on official devices in early 2023.
TikTok has repeatedly denied that it shares user data with the Chinese government and has disputed claims that it poses a unique security risk compared to other social media apps.
TikTok is owned by Beijing-based ByteDance, though the company has stated that TikTok's US user data is stored on servers operated by Oracle as part of a data-security initiative.
Some public commentators and online petitions in New Zealand called for wider restrictions on TikTok, citing concerns about viral "challenge" trends and youth safety, though these calls did not result in a nationwide public ban.
As of 2023, TikTok had well over one billion monthly active users worldwide, making it one of the most popular social media platforms globally.
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