"It is the largest digital channel for young people and it is important for us to be where the target group is. It's also about popular anchorage," says marketing manager Johan Landeström in a statement on the Swedish Armed Forces' website and adds:
"We must be able to counter misinformation targeting Swedish interests even on Tiktok."
In November 2022, the Government Offices urged their employees to delete Tiktok from their work mobile phones. The main reason was the risk of information spreading through the app, as Chinese companies are legally required to assist the country's intelligence services. In the spring of 2023, the Swedish Armed Forces were one of several Swedish authorities that followed, just like several regions.
Johan Landeström admits that it cannot be ruled out that user information from Tiktok reaches Chinese authorities.
"But we will only share open information and, in addition, the authority uses specific mobile phones with the sole purpose of handling the Tiktok account," he says.
China has denied the allegations of surveillance.
