This call for vigilance comes from social media TikTok – its parent company ByteDance based in China – faced allegations that the app spied on its users.

Sami Khoury, director of the Canadian Center for Cyber ​​Security, advises users to ask themselves certain questions when authorizing an application to access their data.

” Why does an app need access to my entire contact list? Why does she need access to my calendar, my email, my phone records, my [textos]? »

In some cases, your data ends up in a place that doesn’t respect the same principles of rule of law and respect for human rights as we do herehe agreed CBC News.

The organization Mr Khoury works for is part of the Communications Security Establishment (CSE), which is overseen by the National Defence.

TikTok on the radar of CST

TikTok has been accused of intrusive data collection, including by the European Union regulator. She examines what is calling her Transfers of Personal Data by TikTok to China.

THE CST states that Canadians with sensitive business information on their devices should take extra care when authorizing an app to access their data.

Some platforms are responsible platforms where you may not have to worry about the data falling into the hands of a nation state. But other platforms are too close to this linesaid Mr Khoury.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said last month that the CST has an eye on TikTok.

So far the CST did not advise against using the app. Rather, it gives general advice (New window) Canadians on social media cybersecurity best practices.

Mr Khoury said so CST updated this advice.

Late last year, Republican Senator Marco Rubio introduced legislation to ban TikTok entirely in the United States.

The United States has already banned federal employees from using the app on government-issued devices, citing national security concerns. A growing number of US universities have also banned the app from being used on educational devices and networks.

Evan Koronewski, a spokesman for the CSTsaid he’s watching closely what the United States and other allies are doing.

We continue to monitor the situation and provide the Canadian government with the most relevant cybersecurity advice.he said.

This includes working with our federal partners, the Treasury Board Secretariat and Shared Services Canada, to ensure government information systems and networks remain safe and secure.added Mr. Koronewski.

ByteDance denies sharing data with China

In a statement, a TikTok spokesman insisted the Chinese Communist Party had no control over it ByteDancethat the company has never provided Canadian user data to the Chinese government and would not do so if requested.

We continue to have a constructive relationship with the Canadian government. We protect the safety and privacy of Canadian users and are committed to answering any questions officials may havesaid the TikTok spokesman.

As for the Canadian Center for Cybersecurity, Mr. Khoury and his deputy director Rajiv Gupta remain skeptical and advise caution.

I disable everything in all the apps I use because that’s my personalityexplained Mr Gupta.

With information from Catharine Tunney, CBC News