Ottawa-area MPP deletes TikTok account as Ontario, city of Ottawa ban app on work devices
As the city of Ottawa and Ontario government move to ban TikTok from all work devices over security concerns, an Ottawa-area MPP deleted her TikTok account on Friday.
Meantime, Ottawa police say all officers and staff were directed to remove the social media app from work and personal devices three months ago.
On Thursday, the city and Ontario government announced it would no longer allow the app on any work-related devices. The new order follows the federal government's TikTok ban last week.
Carleton MPP Goldie Ghamari shut down her TikTok account and deleted it from her personal phone due to the ban.
"TikTok is a personal account, and I only use it on my personal phone. I've gotten rid of my TikTok account for now. But it's not something that I want to do. It's something that as a politician, I have to do," Ghamari said. She had grown her account to 282,000 TikTok followers.
Coun. Catherine Kitts, one of three councillors with a TikTok account, says that she was not very active on the platform, so the ban wouldn't be a significant loss to her.
"Actually, I have a work phone and a personal phone. If I did want to keep up with the platform, I guess we could look at doing it that way. Because I don't have my email or my Teams or anything on the city server, on my personal phone," Kitts said.
The ban also extends to any personal phones that access work-related applications. While access to TikTok through a web browser on a computer or laptop has not been banned, technology analyst Carmi Levy suggests that a broader ban could be forthcoming.
"Still, you're logged into a TikTok account. It is still collecting data through the browser; it is still being shared with an unknown source, potentially in China. So it's a different kind of or level of risk, but it's risk all the same," Levy said.
TikTok's parent company ByteDance is based in China, and there are concerns over its handling of user data and connections to the Chinese government.
"When the federal government announced it last week, it was just government-issued devices, whereas now we're starting to see more subtlety. It's government-issued devices as well as personal devices on which you could be doing potentially government-related work," Levy added.
The Ottawa Police Service also removing the app from devices.
"At the Ottawa Police Service we actually, about three or four months ago, we ensured that they were removed from all of our work devices or personal devices as well too,” Chief Eric Stubbs said. "Obviously, there's risks there."
The ban on TikTok for employees of several governments has led to speculation about whether the private sector will follow suit.
"You know, it's always disappointing when you've worked hard on a platform,” says Kitts. “But, got to be safe."
With files from CTV News Ottawa's Josh Pringle and Peter Szperling
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Ex-tabloid publisher testifies he scooped up possibly damaging tales to shield his old friend Trump
As Donald Trump was running for president in 2016, his old friend at the National Enquirer was scooping up potentially damaging stories about the candidate and paying out tens of thousands of dollars to keep them from the public eye.
Here's why provinces aren't following Saskatchewan's lead on the carbon tax home heating fight
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.
Montreal actress calls Weinstein ruling 'discouraging' but not surprising
A Montreal actress, who has previously detailed incidents she had with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, says a New York Court of Appeals decision overturning his 2020 rape conviction is 'discouraging' but not surprising.
Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye make it four NFL drafts with quarterbacks going 1-3
Caleb Williams is heading to the Windy City, aiming to become the franchise quarterback Chicago has sought for decades.