Which Countries Have Banned TikTok? [Latest 2026 List]

As of 2026, 23 countries worldwide have either completely banned or restricted TikTok, and the list keeps growing. The common thread? Concerns about the app’s Chinese ownership through ByteDance and fears over data security, national surveillance, and content control.

TikTok has become one of those apps you either love or your government really doesn’t trust. It’s wild to think that an app where people dance, lip-sync, and share life hacks has turned into a geopolitical hot topic. But here we are scrolling through videos while governments debate national security.

TikTok Banned Countries List In 2026

Why Are Countries Banning TikTok Anyway?

The primary reasons for these countries banning TikTok are data security, the spread of misinformation, and the effect on the mental health of users.

Data privacy concerns. Where does all that user data go? Your location, contacts, browsing habits—it’s a lot of information, and some countries aren’t comfortable with it potentially flowing to servers they can’t control.

National security risks. There’s fear that foreign governments could access sensitive information or use the app to influence public opinion. Whether those fears are justified is debatable, but they’re real enough to spark action.

Content moderation issues. Some governments don’t like that they can’t fully control what’s being shared on the platform. Misinformation spreads fast, and when you can’t regulate it easily, that becomes a problem.

Now, whether you think these concerns are overblown or totally valid depends on where you stand. But for many governments, the risk feels real enough to hit the ban button.

1. Albania

In March 2025, Albania became the first European nation to implement a nationwide complete ban on TikTok for 1 year, shifting the conversation from national security to youth safety. The move was triggered by a tragic event in November 2024, when a 14-year-old student was fatally stabbed by a peer near a school in Tirana, with the Albanian government alleging that the dispute originated and was fueled by content on TikTok.

2. India

in April 2020 amid escalating border tensions with China, making it one of the largest markets to completely block the app. The government cited national security and data privacy concerns, fearing that sensitive user data of millions of Indians could be accessed by the Chinese government and potentially used against national interests.

3. Somalia

in August 2023, along with other social media and online betting apps, due to serious security threats. The government expressed concerns that terrorist groups like Al-Shabaab were using the platform for propaganda and recruitment, while also citing the spread of immoral and explicit content that conflicted with the country’s Islamic values and cultural norms.

4. Afghanistan

The Taliban-led government banned TikTok in March 2023, claiming the app promoted content they deemed immoral and un-Islamic. Afghan officials stated that TikTok was misleading the country’s youth and spreading content that violated their strict interpretation of cultural and religious values, making it incompatible with their governance principles.

5. Taiwan

in January 2022 due to fears of Chinese espionage and unauthorized data collection. Given Taiwan’s tense geopolitical relationship with mainland China, officials viewed the app as a potential national security threat that could be exploited for intelligence gathering or political influence operations.

6. Bangladesh

Bangladesh temporarily banned TikTok in August 2021, citing serious concerns over pornographic and immoral content that was deemed harmful to the country’s youth. The government also expressed worries about the rise of cyberbullying incidents on the platform and the rapid spread of misinformation that could destabilize social harmony.

7. Indonesia

Indonesia initially banned TikTok in July 2018 over pornographic, blasphemous, and inappropriate content that violated the country’s community standards and religious sensibilities. The ban was later lifted after TikTok agreed to implement stricter content moderation policies, establish a local office, and work closely with Indonesian authorities to monitor content.

8. United States

Over 30 U.S. states banned TikTok on government devices starting in April 2023, citing national security risks and concerns about Chinese government access to American user data. Federal legislation also passed requiring ByteDance to divest TikTok to a non-Chinese entity or face a potential nationwide ban, reflecting bipartisan concerns about the app’s data practices.

9. Australia

Australia banned TikTok from all government devices in March 2023 following direct advice from national security agencies about significant data collection risks. Officials feared that sensitive government information could be accessed by foreign actors through the Chinese-owned platform, potentially compromising national security and intelligence operations.

10. United Kingdom

The UK banned TikTok from government devices in March 2023 after cybersecurity experts raised serious concerns about potential Chinese government access to sensitive data. The decision followed similar moves by Five Eyes intelligence allies and reflected growing unease about ByteDance’s obligations under Chinese national security laws.

11. France

in March 2023 due to insufficient data security guarantees and potential espionage risks from foreign actors. French officials cited specific concerns about the app’s extensive data collection practices, its ties to China, and the lack of transparency around how user information is stored and accessed.

12. Belgium

Belgium’s government banned TikTok from federal employee devices in March 2023 following explicit warnings from the national security service about cybersecurity and data privacy risks. The ban aimed to protect sensitive government information from potential foreign access and aligned with broader European concerns about Chinese technology platforms operating in democratic nations.

13. Norway

Norway banned TikTok from government devices in March 2023 after security services identified significant risks related to Chinese data laws that could compel companies to share information. Officials expressed concerns that user data, including potentially sensitive government communications, could be accessed by Chinese authorities under the country’s broad national intelligence laws.

14. Denmark

Denmark removed TikTok from government work devices in March 2023, citing pressing data security concerns and potential foreign surveillance risks. The decision aligned with NATO allies’ growing wariness about Chinese technology platforms and reflected Denmark’s commitment to protecting sensitive government information from potential compromise.

15. Estonia

Estonia banned TikTok from official government devices in March 2023 due to national security concerns about sensitive data potentially flowing to China. As a NATO frontline state with historical concerns about foreign interference, Estonia took a particularly cautious approach to Chinese technology platforms that could be used for espionage.

16. Latvia

Latvia prohibited TikTok on government devices in March 2023 following strong recommendations from national security services about espionage and data theft risks. The Baltic nation cited specific concerns about potential Chinese government access to sensitive information, reflecting regional anxieties about foreign surveillance and cyber threats.

17. New Zealand

in March 2023 over significant cybersecurity risks and data privacy concerns. Officials worried about potential Chinese government access to sensitive political information through the platform, particularly given New Zealand’s membership in the Five Eyes intelligence alliance.

18. Ireland

in April 2023, following EU-wide cybersecurity guidance about Chinese apps and associated data risks. The decision reflected growing European concerns about foreign access to sensitive government data and the potential for Chinese technology platforms to be leveraged for intelligence gathering.

19. Netherlands

Netherlands discouraged TikTok use on government devices in November 2022 due to security and privacy risks stemming from Chinese data laws. Officials warned that user data could potentially be accessed by Beijing under national security provisions, creating vulnerabilities for sensitive government communications and operations.

20. Jordan

Jordan initially banned TikTok claiming it threatened social cohesion and spread harmful content during political protests in the country. The ban was lifted in December 2022 after TikTok agreed to enhanced content moderation measures and committed to closer cooperation with Jordanian authorities on monitoring and controlling content.

21. Pakistan

Pakistan repeatedly banned and unbanned TikTok over immoral and indecent content that authorities claimed violated Islamic values and cultural norms. After multiple temporary bans starting in 2020, authorities allowed TikTok to operate from July 2021 with stricter content monitoring agreements and commitments to remove objectionable material.

22. Armenia

in October 2020, Armenia’s main telecom provider blocked TikTok citing national security concerns during wartime. The restriction aimed to prevent the spread of Azerbaijani propaganda and misinformation that could undermine Armenian morale or reveal sensitive military information during active combat.

23. Azerbaijan

During armed conflict with Armenia in September 2020, Azerbaijan’s telecommunications companies restricted TikTok access to prevent the spread of misinformation and enemy propaganda. The ban was implemented by service providers rather than through official government legislation, reflecting the urgent wartime need to control information flows.

Conclusion

TikTok is currently banned in 23 countries, and the list may grow further if it does not address the cited security concerns. India, Albania, Ireland, Taiwan, Somalia, Bangladesh, Indonesia, and Afghanistan have completely blocked the app, while it is partially banned in the remaining countries mentioned above.

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