The Hong Kong government has banned the use of popular apps like WhatsApp, WeChat, and Google Drive on official computers of civil servants, citing security risks.
According to the Associated Press on the 23rd (local time), Hong Kong authorities explained through Facebook that the policy aims to prevent potential malicious links and attachments from bypassing security measures via encrypted messages.
However, civil servants are allowed to use these services on personal devices and may seek regulatory exemptions with their supervisor's approval.
Sun Dong, Director of the Hong Kong Innovation and Technology Bureau, appeared on local radio the previous day and stated that hacking is becoming an increasingly serious issue, making this measure necessary. He also explained that both the U.S. and Chinese governments have already implemented strict measures on their internal computer systems.
The Associated Press reported that data leaks occurred in several Hong Kong government departments this year, putting the personal information of at least tens of thousands of people at risk and causing concern.
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