Palace: No reason to ban TikTok in Philippines

The Philippines is not inclined to ban Chinese mobile application TikTok, Malacañang said Tuesday, despite privacy concerns being raised against the popular video platform.

President Rodrigo Duterte’s spokesperson Harry Roque said the Palace sees no reason to ban TikTok even after India’s move to ban the app and US President Donald Trump’s vow to follow suit.

"Wala pong dahilan na nakikita para i-ban ang TikTok dito sa Pilipinas," Roque, who has thousands of followers on TikTok, said in a televised briefing.

"Sa mga nagsasabi na nanunupil si Presidente ng karapatan ng malayang pananalita, wala pong kahit anong website na bina-ban ang Presidente.”

American authorities have claimed the app could be a tool for Chinese intelligence while India’s TikTok ban in June came weeks after a deadly Himalayan border clash between Indian and Chinese troops.

TikTok, which has an estimated billion users globally, recently pledged a high level of transparency, including allowing reviews of its algorithms, to assure users and regulators. —LDF, GMA News