Which countries have banned TikTok

Tengrinews.kz - TikTok is one of the most popular platforms for creating short videos. This social network often faces restrictions or a complete ban in many countries around the world. Our editorial team will tell you which countries have banned TikTok and why this happened.

Recently, a photo with a map showing countries where TikTok is unavailable was circulated on social networks. The territories where the social network does not work include: Russia, China, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Iran, and Afghanistan. Countries with free access include Kazakhstan and Mongolia. We decided to check where TikTok is really blocked. It turned out that the map was not entirely accurate. Read on for more details.

Photo: Social media

Kazakhstan

TikTok is available to users in Kazakhstan, but the platform has repeatedly become the subject of discussion. Senate deputy Gennadiy Shipovskih called for TikTok to be blocked in Kazakhstan. In his opinion, many countries partially ban this platform, since "some content on TikTok can negatively influence children's behavior and lead to false ideals and addiction," as well as for the sake of data security and the need to maintain social stability in the country.

Russia

TikTok stopped working fully in Russia on March 6, 2022. The platform limited the ability of Russian users to upload videos, conduct live broadcasts, and view ads. This happened against the backdrop of tightening legislation and international sanctions. Since then, Russian users can only view old videos, but access to new trends, broadcasts, and fresh content is closed.

Kyrgyzstan

On April 18, 2024, access to TikTok in Kyrgyzstan was officially blocked. The decision was made by the Ministry of Digital Development at the request of the State Committee for National Security of Kyrgyzstan due to non-compliance with the Law of the Kyrgyz Republic "On measures to prevent harm to the health of children, their physical, intellectual, mental, spiritual and moral development." The authorities expressed concern about the lack of proper censorship of content, especially for children.

Uzbekistan

TikTok has been unavailable in Uzbekistan since July 2021. The ban was initiated due to violations of the law on personal data. The State Inspectorate for Control in sphere of Communications, Informatization and Telecommunication Technologies stated that the platform does not ensure the security of user data.

Tajikistan

TikTok is not banned in Tajikistan and is available to users. However, the platform is not as popular among locals. Residents of Tajikistan are more likely to use other social networks, such as Instagram or WhatsApp, which are more in line with their interests and habits.

China

Although TikTok is a product of the Chinese company ByteDance, it is not officially available in the domestic market of China. Instead, a separate application called Douyin operates in the country, which is developed in full compliance with strict Chinese laws and regulations. The main differences between TikTok and Douyin include: content control and localization.

Douyin is subject to strict censorship rules to exclude videos that do not correspond to state interests. The platform's content is adapted for a Chinese audience and is different from the global TikTok. TikTok's ban in China is related to compliance with national information policy standards.

Iran

TikTok, along with Instagram, Telegram, and other social networks, has been blocked in Iran. The decision is related to the political protests of 2022 and the authorities' desire to limit the dissemination of information that could provoke social unrest.

India

In 2020, the Indian government imposed a complete ban on TikTok along with 58 other Chinese apps. The decision was made amid the escalation of the geopolitical situation following clashes between Indian and Chinese troops in the Ladakh region.

The main reasons were:

• national security threats – Indian authorities said Chinese apps could use Indian citizens’ data for spying;
• protecting sovereignty – the ban was presented as a measure to ensure digital sovereignty;
• popularizing anti-government content: TikTok was accused of distributing videos that could undermine social stability.

Since then, the platform has remained unavailable in India, despite attempts by the companies to reach a compromise with the government.

Afghanistan

In April 2022, the Taliban blocked TikTok, calling it an "immoral app." The government believes that the platform is misinforming the younger generation. At the same time, the game PUBG was banned, and restrictions were imposed on the content of national TV channels.

Turkmenistan and North Korea

These countries are known for their strict restrictions on access to the internet. In Turkmenistan and North Korea, not only TikTok is blocked, but also most social networks, including messengers and video hosting services.

USA

In April 2024, the U.S. passed a bill that could lead to a ban on TikTok. The Senate supported a package of four laws, one of which requires the Chinese company ByteDance, which owns TikTok, to sell the app to a foreign company. Nine months were allocated for this.

Last week, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump said he would likely give TikTok a 90-day reprieve after taking office on Monday, January 20. The problem is that the law went into effect on Sunday, January 19, and Trump was not supposed to take office until Monday.

As a result, TikTok was blocked for U.S. users last Sunday. Trump initially promised to unblock TikTok on the day of his inauguration, but eventually, U.S. users gained access to the social network on Monday night (Kazakhstan time). However, the fate of this social network in the U.S. remains unclear.

Albania

Albania imposed a one-year ban on TikTok at the end of 2024. Prime Minister Edi Rama linked the decision to the rise in violence and bullying among young people caused by the platform's content. Speaking at a meeting with parents and teachers, he said TikTok "will be completely and completely closed for everyone. There will be no TikTok in the Republic of Albania."

Pakistan

In Pakistan, TikTok has been temporarily blocked at least four times since October 2020. The main reason for such measures is the spread of "immoral" content, which, according to the authorities, contradicts local cultural and religious norms, and also contains content inappropriate for traditional Pakistani society.

Somalia

In August 2023, the Somali government banned TikTok, justifying it by citing terrorist groups using the platform to spread content. The ban was part of a wider campaign by Somali authorities to combat extremist content online.

Nepal

In November 2023, the Nepalese government banned TikTok, saying the platform was disrupting social harmony. TikTok has been accused of popularizing videos that provoke conflicts and offend religious sentiments. Many residents of the country, especially the older generation, have expressed dissatisfaction with the influence of the platform on young people.

Partial TikTok ban in other countries

In many countries, TikTok is banned on devices used by government officials. The main reason is cybersecurity threats and privacy protection.

• Australia: TikTok is banned on devices belonging to federal employees from April 2023.
• European Union: All key EU institutions, including the European Parliament, have banned TikTok from work devices from March 2023.
• United Kingdom: TikTok is banned on government devices from March 2023.
• France: In March 2023, France banned the installation of “entertainment” apps, including TikTok, on government employees’ work devices.
• Denmark, the Netherlands, Norway, and Belgium: The TikTok ban in these countries also applies to work phones and devices.
• Canada: TikTok is banned on all devices used by the government.
• Taiwan: In December 2022, the TikTok ban was extended to government devices.

Read also: TikTok resumed operations in US after Trump's statement