Canada has imposed an immediate ban on the use of WeChat, a popular Chinese-owned app, on government devices due to security concerns.
Often described as the 'everything app' for its multifunctional use, WeChat is combination of WhatsApp, Facebook (NASDAQ:META), Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN), and Tinder.
Despite its ubiquity in China, Southeast Asia, and among Chinese diaspora communities, Western governments have raised concerns over potential espionage threats posed by the app.
In addition to WeChat, Canada is also targeting Kaspersky, a Russia-based cyber-security company.
What is happening in Australia ?
In Australia, several federal departments have already instituted restrictions on WeChat, including, the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the agriculture department, the employment department, the education department, the home affairs department, the health department, and the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts.
However, there is no blanket ban on WeChat in Australia akin to the country's TikTok ban on government devices instituted in April this year.
No evidence
The president of Canada's Treasury Board, Anita Anand, emphasised that while there is no evidence of government information being compromised through WeChat, the decision is a preventive measure.
"We are taking a risk-based approach to cyber security by removing access to these applications on government mobile devices," Anand stated.
Users of these applications on government devices will have them removed and will be prevented from downloading them in the future.
Greater threat than Tiktok
The move comes amid growing scrutiny of Chinese apps, with many security experts viewing WeChat as a greater threat than TikTok, particularly due to its extensive use by government employees in North America.
Notably, former US president Donald Trump attempted to ban WeChat in 2020 through an executive order, but his efforts were halted by an injunction.