Connect with us

World

US, Canada, India… see countries that have banned TikTok

Published

on

The authorities of the US, and Canada have banned the use of TikTok on government-issued devices over concerns about privacy and cybersecurity.

The video-sharing app, which is owned by the Beijing-based ByteDance, has denied wrongdoing and maintained that it does not share data with the Chinese government.

Despite its denial, a number of countries have decided to ban it either totally or partially.

United States

According to a report published on Wednesday on Reuters, the US house foreign affairs committee approved a bill to ban the Chinese-owned app.

Lawmakers voted 24 to 16 to suspend the app which is used by over 100 million Americans.

“TikTok is a national security threat … It is time to act,” said Michael McCaul, the Republican chair of the committee who sponsored the bill.

“Anyone with TikTok downloaded on their device has given the CCP (Communist Party of China) a backdoor to all their personal information. It’s a spy balloon into their phone.”

Canada

BBC reported that the Canadian government banned the app from all government-issued devices and blocked it from future downloads.

Justin Trudeau, Canada’s prime minister, said there was enough concern about security around the app to require the change.

“This may be the first step, this may be the only step we need to take,” he said on Monday.

Mona Fortier, the president of Canada’s Treasury Board, said the government “is committed to keeping government information secure.”

“On a mobile device, TikTok’s data collection methods provide considerable access to the contents of the phone. While the risks of using this application are clear, we have no evidence at this point that government information has been compromised,” she said.

European Union

In a statement dated February 23 and released by the European Commission, the use of TikTok has been suspended on “corporate devices” used by its staff, as well as “personal devices” that can be connected to its mobile service.

“To increase its cybersecurity, the Commission’s Corporate Management Board has decided to suspend the use of the TikTok application on its corporate devices and on personal devices enrolled in the Commission mobile device service,” the statement reads.

“This measure aims to protect the Commission against cybersecurity threats and actions which may be exploited for cyber-attacks against the corporate environment of the Commission. The security developments of other social media platforms will also be kept under constant review.”

The ban for European Commission employees is set to come into force on March 15.

In 2020, BBC reported that India’s government banned TikTok and 58 other Chinese apps.

The Indian authorities said the apps were “prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, security of state and public order”.

Taiwan

In December 2022, Reuters reported that Taiwan’s government opened an investigation into TikTok over “illegal commercial operations.”

Reacting to this in an emailed statement to Reuters, ByteDance said the company has not established any legal entities in Taiwan.

“Taiwan prohibits a wide range of Chinese business operations and has already banned government departments from using Chinese apps such as TikTok, the council added.

Another report also confirmed that Taiwan imposed a public sector ban on TikTok after being warned that the video-sharing platform posed a national security risk.

Afghanistan

In April 2022, BBC reported that the Taliban, Afghanistan’s militant group, banned TikTok for leading the country’s youths “astray”.

According to Inamullah Samangani, Taliban spokesman, the ban was necessary to “prevent the younger generation from being misled”.

In November 2021, a report by AP showed that Pakistan Telecommunication Authority has banned TikTok four times in the country since the first time in October 2020.

The Pakistani regulatory agency said the sanction is a result of complaints about allegedly “immoral, obscene and vulgar” content on the app.

The ban was later lifted after TokTok pledged to moderate content in adherence to local laws.

World

Trump dismisses claims of handing presidency to Musk as ‘hoax’

Published

on

By

Could Elon Musk, who holds major sway in the incoming Trump administration, one day become president? On Sunday, Donald Trump answered with a resounding no, pointing to US rules about being born in the country.

“He’s not gonna be president, that I can tell you,” Trump told a Republican conference in Phoenix, Arizona.

“You know why he can’t be? He wasn’t born in this country,” Trump said of the Tesla and SpaceX boss, who was born in South Africa.

The US Constitution requires that a president be a natural-born US citizen.

Trump was responding to criticism, particularly from the Democratic camp, portraying the tech billionaire and world’s richest person as “President Musk” for the outsized role he is playing in the incoming administration.

As per ceding the presidency to Musk, Trump also assured the crowd: “No, no that’s not happening.”

The influence of Musk, who will serve as Trump’s “efficiency czar,” has become a focus point for Democratic attacks, with questions raised over how an unelected citizen can wield so much power.

And there is even growing anger among Republicans after Musk trashed a government funding proposal this week in a blizzard of posts — many of them wildly inaccurate — to his more than 200 million followers on his social media platform X.

Alongside Trump, Musk ultimately helped pressure Republicans to renege on a funding bill they had painstakingly agreed upon with Democrats, pushing the United States to the brink of budgetary paralysis that would have resulted in a government shutdown just days before Christmas.

Congress ultimately reached an agreement overnight Friday to Saturday, avoiding massive halts to government services.

Continue Reading

World

Seven confirmed dead in Western Mexico plane crash

Published

on

By

At least seven people died when a light aircraft crashed Sunday in a heavily forested area of Jalisco in western Mexico, local authorities reported.

The aircraft, a Cessna 207, was flying from La Parota in the neighbouring state of Michoacan.

Jalisco Civil Protection said via its social media that the crash site was in an area that was difficult to access.

Initial authorities on the scene “reported a preliminary count of seven people dead,” who haven’t been identified yet, according to the agency.

“A fire was extinguished and risk mitigation was carried out to prevent possible additional damage,” it added.

Authorities said they were awaiting the arrival of forensic investigators to remove the bodies and rule out the presence of additional victims.

Continue Reading

World

12 Pathways to U.S. citizenship available in 2025

Published

on

By

There are twelve main pathways for individuals to apply for U.S. citizenship, each with specific criteria and procedures.

These options include family-based immigration, employment opportunities, and asylum, providing various routes for those seeking U.S. citizenship.

According to the DAAD Scholarship, prospective applicants can pursue different immigration routes, depending on their situation.

From marriage to a U.S. citizen to qualifying for the Diversity Visa Lottery, each pathway leads to permanent residency and, eventually, citizenship.

Below is a breakdown of the twelve most common ways to gain U.S. citizenship.

1. Military Service Pathway

Non-citizens who serve in the U.S. military can apply for naturalization during active duty or after one year of service.

Apply here: Naturalization through Military Service

2. Family-Based Immigration (Immediate Relatives)

Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens—spouses, parents, and unmarried children under 21—do not face annual visa caps. After receiving a Green Card, they can apply for citizenship after 3 to 5 years.

Apply here: Green Card for Immediate Relatives 

3. Marriage to a U.S. Citizen

Marrying a U.S. citizen allows immigrants to apply for a Green Card through a spousal visa. After three years of marriage as a permanent resident, they may apply for naturalization.

Apply here: Spousal Visa Information 

4. Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery

The Diversity Visa Lottery offers a random selection process for applicants from countries with low immigration rates to the U.S. If selected, individuals receive a Green Card and can apply for citizenship after five years.

Apply here: DV Lottery Application 

5. Employment-Based Immigration (EB-1, EB-2, EB-3)

Highly skilled workers or professionals in high-demand fields may obtain a Green Card through employment-based visas, including EB-1 and EB-3 categories. After five years, applicants can apply for U.S. citizenship.

Apply here: Employment-Based Green Card 

6. Refugee or Asylum Seeker Pathway

Individuals fleeing persecution can apply for refugee or asylum status and later adjust their status to permanent resident. After five years, they may apply for citizenship.

7. Family-Based Immigration (Preference Categories)

Siblings and married children of U.S. citizens can apply for Green Cards, though the process may take several years due to long waiting times. Once approved, applicants can apply for citizenship after five years.

Apply here: Family Preference Green Card 

8. Study-to-Citizenship Pathway

International students who graduate from U.S. universities on F-1 visas can transition to work visas like H-1B, secure employer sponsorship, and eventually apply for citizenship after five years.

Apply here: Steps to Naturalization 

9. Special Immigrant Visas and Humanitarian Pathways

Special immigrant visas are available for those who have worked with U.S. forces abroad or victims of trafficking. After receiving a Green Card, they may apply for citizenship.

Apply here: Special Immigrant Visa

10. EB-5 Investor Visa

Through the EB-5 program, individuals who invest $900,000 to $1.8 million in a U.S. business may obtain a Green Card. Citizenship can be pursued after five years.

Apply here: EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program 

11. Adoption Pathway

Children under 18 who are adopted by U.S. citizens automatically gain citizenship upon entering the U.S. as permanent residents.

Apply here: Adoption Process 

12. Special Legal Provisions

Some individuals may qualify for citizenship under special provisions, such as the U visa for victims of crime or the registry for those who have lived in the U.S. since 1972.

Common requirements for U.S. citizenship 

Regardless of the pathway, applicants must be at least 18 years old, have continuous residence for 3 to 5 years as a Green Card holder, and be physically present in the U.S. for 18 to 30 months, depending on their specific situation.

Additionally, applicants must demonstrate good moral character, pass an English and civics test, and take the Oath of Allegiance.

The road to U.S. citizenship in 2025 involves multiple options, each with its own challenges. Understanding the requirements of each pathway is essential for anyone seeking permanent residency or citizenship in the United States.

Continue Reading

Most Read...