Malaya: TikTok ban possible if linked to cyber espionage, probe to be finished next month

National Security Council (NSC) Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya said that a nationwide ban on social media platform TikTok is possible if proven that it is engaged in cyberespionage.

Malaya, who chairs the task force created by National Security adviser Eduardo Año to look into TikTok, said they are currently evaluating the potential threat that the social media application poses to the country’s national security.

“Iyong mga apps na ganyan may mga features na pwedeng gamitin para malaman ang galawan ng gumagamit- ang location, iyong mga online behavior mo- that could possibly compromise national security,” Malaya said in a press release. 

(Those apps have features that can be used to know someone's location, your online behavior that could possibly compromise national security.)

“Ang pinag-aaralan po namin ngayon is how big a threat is TikTok to our national security. Ang may-ari po kasi niyan, ang mother company na Bytedance is a Chinese company and under their law, lahat po ng mga kumpanya sa Tsina ay kinakailangan makipagtulungan sa kanilang gobyerno,” he added. 

(We are studying how big a threat TikTok is to our national security. Its owner is a Chinese company and under their law, all Chinese firms should cooperate with their government.)

Malaya explained that the scope of the ongoing investigation is focused on state personnel connected to the military, police, and other security agencies. 

He said the task force already asked TikTok representatives in the Philippines to air its side and submit a position paper to answer the espionage allegations against the company.

The official said his team would finish its probe by next month and submit its recommendation to Año. 

Several countries, such as the United States, India, and Canada have already announced moves to ban TikTok.

Armed Forces of the Philippines spokesperson Col. Medel Aguilar earlier said the military has already implemented measures on the use of TikTok.—Anna Felicia Bajo/AOL, GMA Integrated News