France has banned “recreational” apps such as TikTok, Twitter, Netflix, and Candy Crush from government employees’ devices due to cybersecurity concerns that could jeopardize data for both employees and the administration. The office of public service minister Stanislas Guerini made the announcement. While the government has not provided an exact list of banned apps, Guerini stated that there could be some exceptions for necessary communication purposes. The ban takes effect immediately, but the penalties for defying the rule will be decided at the “managerial level.” The policy does not affect personal devices (yet).

TikTok

The rationale for the ban is not related to concerns about the Chinese government collecting data from TikTok, which has been the primary concern of other countries. Instead, it reflects a more general concern that entertainment apps could put government data at risk. The policy is not targeted at any particular country or app category.

France’s move follows similar bans on TikTok by the US federal government, dozens of states, Canada, the European Commission, and the UK, which all cited concerns that the Chinese government could collect data about important individuals, spread propaganda, and compel TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, to hand over sensitive information. TikTok has denied collaborating with the Chinese government and has insisted that American user data will not be accessible to staff in other countries by the end of this year’s migration project.

The French ban may be unwelcome news for employees who wish to use these apps during lunch, but it could also reassure politicians who worry that employees may inadvertently expose information through their social media accounts. It remains to be seen how strictly the ban will be enforced and what penalties, if any, will be imposed on those who defy it.

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