Another one bites the dust
Canada has banned Chinese messaging application WeChat on government-issued mobile devices due to privacy and security risks but said government information had not been compromised. The Russian antivirus program Kaspersky has also been banned.
The President of the Treasury Board, Anita Anand, said “The Government of Canada is committed to keeping government information and networks secure. We regularly monitor potential threats and take immediate action to address risks.
“Users of these devices will also be blocked from downloading the applications in the future. The decision to remove and block the WeChat and the Kaspersky applications was made to ensure that the Government of Canada networks and data remain secure and protected and are in line with the approach of our international partners.
For the broader public, the decision to use a social media application or mobile platform is a personal choice.”
However, the Communications Security Establishment’s Canadian Centre for Cyber Security (Cyber Centre) provides advice and guidance regarding the use of personal social media and security considerations that should be made when using social media in an organization.
Chinese-Canadians ponder the WeChat ban
The ban on WeChat undoubtedly poses challenges for the large Chinese-Canadian community. It’s also a psychological blow to them.
The ban may also have broader implications for Canada’s trade and diplomatic relations with China. China is Canada’s second-largest trading partner, and any actions that may be perceived as an affront could strain these relations further.
Canada will need to find a delicate balance between safeguarding its national interests and maintaining a healthy relationship with China.