Why has Canada banned WeChat and Kaspersky on government devices? In a significant move aimed at bolstering national cybersecurity, the Canadian government announced on Monday the prohibition of WeChat, a Chinese messaging application, and Kaspersky, a Russian antivirus program, on mobile devices provided to government personnel.
The decision, motivated by concerns regarding privacy and security, was made following a thorough assessment conducted by Canada’s chief information officer.
It’s important to note that no breach of government information was reported, but the government highlighted potential risks associated with the data collection methods employed by these applications.
Why has Canada banned WeChat and Kaspersky on government devices?
The Treasury Board of Canada, the body overseeing public administration, released a statement indicating that both WeChat, owned by Tencent, and applications developed by Moscow-based Kaspersky posed an “unacceptable level of risk to privacy and security.”
The ban was implemented to safeguard government networks and data, aligning Canada with the security measures adopted by its international counterparts.
Also read: PIA suspends flights operation to Canada: here’s why
China’s foreign ministry expressed discontent with the decision, accusing the Canadian government of unfairly targeting Chinese enterprises without substantial evidence.
They characterized the move as an abuse of national power, urging Canada to provide a fair and unbiased business environment for Chinese companies.
The ministry’s spokesperson, Wang Wenbin, emphasized the need to set aside ideological biases.
Kaspersky, the Russian cybersecurity firm, expressed surprise and disappointment in response to the ban.
The company argued that the decision lacked evidence or due process and appeared to be influenced more by geopolitical factors than a comprehensive evaluation of its products and services.
WeChat, the popular Chinese messaging platform, did not immediately respond to the situation.
This recent action follows a similar ban imposed in February, where Canada prohibited TikTok, a short-video app owned by the Chinese company Bytedance, from government-issued devices due to comparable privacy and security concerns.
As part of the ban, WeChat and Kaspersky applications have been immediately removed from government-issued mobile devices, and future downloads of these apps will be restricted.
The Canadian government’s decision underscores the global challenge of balancing digital innovation with national security imperatives, prompting ongoing discussions about the regulation of international technology applications in various countries.
