The company found a small number of its workers were using TikTok, which is owned by Chinese company ByteDance, on Wells Fargo devices. The app has about 80 million active monthly users in the U.S.
“Due to concerns about TikTok’s privacy and security controls and practices, and because corporate-owned devices should be used for company business only, we have directed those employees to remove the app from their devices,” a Wells Fargo spokesperson told the publication.
Separately, hactivist group Anonymous has urged Americans to dump TikTok, according to an article from Forbes. “Delete TikTok now, if you know someone that is using it, explain to them that it is essentially malware operated by the Chinese government running a massive spying operation,” the Anonymous account tweeted on July 1.
TikTok has always been controversial. India, for example, has banned TikTok and 58 other Chinese apps. Increasing the concern is that TikTok has multiplied its fame and influence during the pandemic.