Following the U.S. and India, Japan is also planning to remove Chinese smartphone apps for security reasons. This is because China has been collecting personal information from users through Chinese apps such as “TikTok,” which is gaining popularity internationally. Following Huawei, there is an international trend of withdrawal of Chinese apps.
Japanese media, including the Nikkei Asian Review, reported on the 29th that the ruling Liberal Democratic Party will propose to the Japanese government to restrict the use of smartphone apps developed in China.
Japan Chinese apps ban, not only TikTok
The LDP to organize such suggestions and hand them over to the Japanese government sometime in September. In this regard, the government considers the law revision to add a “security risk” clause to the Telecommunications Business Act. Akira Amari, former minister of economic regeneration and chairman of the Federation, said, “It is time to look at information-related devices and information software in a broader perspective than ever before”. Adding, “We have decided to make a suggestion considering the recent U.S. move together”. Japan is also planning to join the recent trend of regulations on Chinese apps such as TikTok in the U.S. and India.
In Japan, local governments have been using TikTok to promote their policies to young people.
Recently, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeii said he is considering banning Chinese social media, including TikTok. It is to prevent American information transferred to the hands of the Chinese Communist Party. India has already banned 59 Chinese apps such as TikTok and WeChat since last month’s border scuffle with China. Australia is also in the mood to join.
Meanwhile, the U.K has excluded Huawei tech from the 5G development in the country. France follows suit. And China threatens to ban Nokia and Ericsson if the EU bans Huawei in unity.
