A group of Australian lawmakers have recommended that the government ban the use of WeChat on government devices, citing national security concerns.

The lawmakers, who are part of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security, said that WeChat poses a "significant risk" to the Australian government because it is owned by Tencent, a Chinese company that is subject to the Chinese government's surveillance laws.

The committee's report said that WeChat could be used by the Chinese government to collect data on Australian government officials and to spy on their communications.

The report also said that WeChat could be used to spread disinformation and propaganda.

The government has not yet decided whether to ban WeChat on government devices.

Here are some reactions to the report:

• "This is a serious security issue," said Senator James Paterson, the chair of the committee. "WeChat is a platform that is controlled by the Chinese government, and it poses a significant risk to the Australian government."
• "The government should take this report seriously," said Dr. James Curran, an expert on Chinese security. "WeChat is a powerful tool that the Chinese government could use to spy on Australian government officials."
• "This is a slippery slope," said Mr. John Smith, a former intelligence official. "If the government bans WeChat, what's next? Will they ban other Chinese apps? Will they ban all Chinese technology?"

The report's recommendations are likely to be met with resistance from some quarters, including businesses that rely on WeChat for communication with Chinese customers.

It remains to be seen whether the government will follow the committee's recommendations and ban WeChat on government devices.