Proposed Philippine TikTok ban needs basis -- experts - Bu...

SUFFICIENT evidence is needed for the Philippines to join other countries looking to ban the use of short-form video platform TikTok due to alleged surveillance concerns, experts said. The proposal to ban the use of the platform among public officials is indicative of "broader geopolitical tensions and our own state agencies wanting to show they're falling in line with allies," Jonathan C. Ong, disinformation researcher at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, said in a message to BusinessWorld. "There is little evidence that Chinese state intelligence has actually relied on TikTok data rather than through their more traditional intelligence gathering strategies," he added. Solid proof is needed that data collected from TikTok are being used to monitor the public, Ronald B. Gustilo, national campaigner for Digital Pinoys, likewise said in a Viber message. "[Then], the government i...