THE Armed Forces said its personnel may still use the social media platform TikTok if they will utilize their personal devices and will not connect to military network.
AFP spokeswoman Col. Francel Margareth Padilla made the clarification during a radio interview yesterday, two days after reporting all personnel are banned from using the Chinese-developed TikTok.
“Just a point of clarification, what we are prohibiting are is specifically those that are connected to the military network… We would say that it is not authorized if they connect their personal phones to military network,” she said.
Padilla said AFP personnel should err on the side of caution when using TikTok.
“Of course, they have to carry themselves in a manner that when they do TikTok, they should be officers and gentlemen and ladies. That’s what we are reminding them of,” she said.
Specifically, Padilla said military personnel should not compromise the security of military installations and provide information that may affect the conduct of operations.
She said personnel found violating the policy will be investigated and punished.
As to the punishment, Padilla said this will depend on the commanders of the personnel who committed the violation.
Padilla also said the policy has been existing in 2021. Incidentally, the National Security Council said in September last year said it was studying if it will ban TikTok in the security sector, including the Armed Forces.
Padilla last Friday said TikTok poses risks, noting that users give the developer the permission to access their microphone, and camera, among others.
She said this allows the developer to control the device of TikTok users.
Padilla said the policy is not related to the continuing dispute with China over the West Philippine Sea in the South China Sea, adding this is merely part of the military’s cyber security measures.