Due to potential security dangers, the Hong Kong government has barred most civil servants from using popular apps such as WhatsApp, WeChat, and Google Drive on their work computers.
Many federal servants are protesting about the Digital Policy Office’s latest IT security requirements, which have added to their inconvenience.
Government employees will still be able to use personal devices at work and can request exceptions to the ban with a manager’s approval.
According to information technology experts, organisations have adopted similar rules in response to increased dangers of data leaks and cybersecurity concerns.
Sun Dong, Secretary for Innovation, Technology, and Industry, stated that the restriction is necessary because hacking is becoming a more significant problem.
He went on to say that the governments of the United States and China have both developed strict security measures for their internal computer networks.
Anthony Lai, director of VX Research Limited, a cybersecurity business based in Hong Kong and the United Kingdom, believes the government’s approach is reasonable due to low cybersecurity knowledge among some employees and a lack of comprehensive internal monitoring systems.
Earlier this year, data breaches at multiple Hong Kong government departments exposed the personal information of at least tens of thousands of people, raising worries.
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