UK Government Bans TikTok on Official Devices Over Security Concerns

 

The UK government has banned the use of TikTok on all government-issued devices, citing security concerns. The move follows similar bans by the US government and other countries, which have accused the Chinese-owned social media platform of collecting sensitive user data and sharing it with the Chinese government.

The ban applies to all devices issued by government departments and agencies, as well as those used by contractors and suppliers working with the government. TikTok will also be removed from the government's approved list of apps for use on personal devices.

The ban comes amid growing concern about the security risks posed by Chinese technology companies, particularly those involved in critical national infrastructure. The UK government has already taken steps to reduce the country's reliance on Chinese telecoms giant Huawei in its 5G network.

TikTok, which is owned by Beijing-based ByteDance, has denied allegations that it poses a security threat and has said it stores user data outside of China. The company has also appointed a former US government official to oversee its data protection efforts.

The UK government's move is likely to further strain relations between China and the UK, which have been tense in recent years over issues such as Hong Kong and human rights abuses in Xinjiang. It is unclear whether other countries will follow the UK's lead in banning TikTok from government devices.