WARSAW, POLAND - Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Affairs Krzysztof Gawkowski issued a stern warning against using TikTok on government devices, citing potential risks associated with its data processing practices. During an interview on Polish Radio Program 1, he expressed his worries about various platforms, not just TikTok, collecting and processing user data in ways that could be harmful.
Government Technology Advisory Issued by Minister Gawkowski: Potential Risks of Installing TikTok on Official Gadgets
Gawkowski believes that while there are no immediate plans to ban TikTok or any other platform in Poland, he strongly advises against its use on work devices. He emphasized, "Different platforms process their data differently, and we don't know all the details. Therefore, work devices should not have such applications installed."
A RISING TIDE OF CYBERATTACKS
The Deputy Prime Minister also touched upon an escalating surge in cyberattacks, primarily targeting governmental and local administration institutions, since the commencement of the European Parliament election campaign. Gawkowski speculated that these attacks could be a part of efforts to destabilize EU countries ahead of the elections, possibly orchestrated by Russia. He stated, "Poland is in a sort of cold war with Russia in the digital space."
GLOBAL DATA SECURITY CONCERNS
Gawkowski's warning comes amidst growing global concerns about data security, particularly surrounding popular social media platforms amidst increasing geopolitical tensions and cybersecurity threats. The US Congress has passed a bill compelling ByteDance, TikTok's Chinese parent company, to sell the app due to apprehensions over data security and potential misuse for surveillance and influence operations.
OVERALL SITUATION
Recent findings reveal significant global concerns about TikTok's data security practices, highlighting potential foreign influence and cybersecurity risks amid geopolitical tensions:
- Data Privacy and Regulatory Actions: TikTok was fined €530 million in Europe for GDPR violations related to Chinese data transfers. Regulators determined that remote staff in China had improperly accessed EU user data[2][4]. Bothe the EU and US have voiced concerns about the possibility of China exploiting TikTok's data collection—including browsing history and personal information—for surveillance or influence campaigns[3][4].
- Foreign Influence Risks: The US Center for Strategic & International Studies (October 2024) suggested that China might manipulate TikTok's algorithm to suppress dissent, spread disinformation, or sway user perceptions through content prioritization[3].
- Data Localization Efforts: TikTok's €12 billion Project Clover (2023–2033) aims to establish a European data enclave, with existing centers in Norway, Ireland, and the US. The planned €1 billion Finland data center is part of this strategy to isolate EU data from Chinese access[3].
- State-Level Bans: The European Commission has prohibited TikTok on official devices, while the US has consistently threatened a nationwide ban over national security concerns[3][4].
THE BROADER CYBERSECURITY CONTEXT
Although TikTok's data practices mirror those of other social platforms, its Chinese ownership under ByteDance—subject to China's 2017 National Intelligence Law—stokes concerns about mandatory data-sharing with authorities[3][4]. These issues reflect wider tensions over cross-border data flows and tech sovereignty in an increasingly competitive US-China rivalry era.
- Krzysztof Gawkowski, the Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Affairs, has issued a warning against using TikTok on government devices due to potential risks associated with its data processing practices.
- Gawkowski expressed his concerns about various platforms, not just TikTok, collecting and processing user data in ways that could be harmful.
- He emphasized that work devices should not have such applications installed, as different platforms process their data differently, and we don't know all the details.
- Gawkowski also addressed a rising tide of cyberattacks, primarily targeting governmental and local administration institutions, since the commencement of the European Parliament election campaign.
- He speculated that these attacks could be a part of efforts to destabilize EU countries ahead of the elections, possibly orchestrated by Russia, referring to Poland being in a sort of cold war with Russia in the digital space.
- The global concern about data security, particularly surrounding popular social media platforms, has been growing amidst increasing geopolitical tensions and cybersecurity threats.
- The US Congress has passed a bill compelling ByteDance, TikTok's Chinese parent company, to sell the app due to apprehensions over data security and potential misuse for surveillance and influence operations.
