Canada has banned Chinese messaging app WeChat and Russian antivirus program Kaspersky on government-issued mobile devices due to concerns over privacy and security risks, Reuters reports.
The ban follows an assessment by Canada’s chief information officer, concluding that these applications present an unacceptable risk to privacy and security. While there’s no evidence of government information compromise, the ban aims to ensure the security of government networks and data.
China’s foreign ministry criticized the decision as an abuse of national power and unreasonably suppressed Chinese enterprises. Kaspersky expressed surprise and disappointment, emphasizing that there was no evidence to justify these actions.
This follows Canada’s ban on the use of TikTok on government-issued devices in February for similar reasons.
