The Hong Kong government has prohibited the use of popular apps such as Meta Platforms Inc META owned WhatsApp, and Alphabet Inc.’s GOOGL GOOG Google-owned Drive on civil servants’ work computers. The decision was made due to potential security threats.
What Happened: The Digital Policy Office of the Hong Kong government has issued new IT security guidelines, which have led to the ban on the use of WhatsApp, WeChat, and Google Drive on work computers, reported the Associated Press.
Civil servants can still access these services from their personal devices at work, with the possibility of exceptions to the ban if approved by a manager.
Sun Dong, the Secretary for Innovation, Technology, and Industry, emphasized the necessity of the ban, citing the increasing severity of hacking as a major concern. He pointed out that both the U.S. and China have implemented strict measures for their internal computer systems.
According to the new policy, civil servants can request exceptions to the ban for specific work-related tasks. The government has also suggested alternative methods for affected departments, such as using designated computers for these services, with no connection to internal systems.
Why It Matters: This development in Hong Kong aligns with a global trend of governments imposing restrictions on digital platforms for security and other concerns.
For instance, Australia is set to introduce legislation banning children from using social media platforms, citing health risks. Similarly, Florida has implemented measures to restrict social media access for children under 14.
In Indonesia, e-commerce activities on social media have been banned to protect traditional markets. These actions reflect a growing global emphasis on regulating digital platforms to address various societal and security concerns.
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This story was generated using Benzinga Neuro and edited by Kaustubh Bagalkote
© 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
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