TikTok could be banned in the Philippines if it’s proven that the social media platform is being used by the Chinese for espionage and cyberattacks, National Security Adviser Eduardo Año claimed.

“Because these apps came from China, there is a huge possibility that they are acquiring data and the private details of their subscribers,” the National Security Council (NSC) secretary was quoted as saying in a GMA News report.

The NSC revealed in September that it was studying the possibility of a TikTok ban limited to the government’s security sector due to concerns about Chinese spying, but Año now says he will not hesitate to recommend a total ban of the platform if there is sufficient evidence to prove that such cyberattacks were being carried out against the Philippines.

“We are not yet saying that TikTok will be banned in the Philippines. We will first go to governments and offices involved in security matters. If we see any other development, we will adjust,” he said.

The NSC continued to assess TikTok to guarantee the protection of Filipino subscribers and the government system, Año claimed. Around 43.4 million Filipino adults use TikTok, according to DataReportal.

Following the recent cyberattacks on the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) and the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), NSC Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya has been assigned to submit a report on how the council will draft its memo or policy to guarantee the protection of data in the Philippines.

“[W]e need to prepare for it,” Año said.

India, Pakistan, Syria, and Afghanistan have completely banned TikTok due to fears that the video-sharing app could pose a threat to their national security, The Philippine Star reported.

Meanwhile, countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada have partially banned the platform and prohibited its installation on government-issued devices.