Australia is scrutinising the popular Chinese-owned social media TikTok platform for any risks it may pose to users from around potential foreign interference and data privacy issues.
Owned by Bytedance, TikTok opened an office in Australia in recent weeks. Offices of both the Home Affairs and Attorney-General are discussing TikTok's operations.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said his government was "having a good look" at TikTok, which has also fallen under U.S. scrutiny for "national security risks".
"If we consider there is a need to take further action than we are taking now, then I can tell you we won’t be shy about it," Morrison told Melbourne radio station.
Separately, Labor Senator Jenny McAllister, the chairwoman of a parliamentary inquiry into foreign interference through social media, has identified TikTok as needing further scrutiny, noting 1.6 million young Australians used the app.
"Some of these approaches to moderating content might be inconsistent with Australian values," she told ABC radio.
Two of the three directors of the new Australian TikTok operation are senior executives of Chinese parent company ByteDance, company records show.
