UK Bans Tiktok App on Government Devices over Security Concerns.
The UK government has banned the social media app TikTok on the government devices the Cabinet Office announced yesterday.
“The security of sensitive government information must come first, so today we are banning this app on government devices. The use of other data-extracting apps will be kept under review. Restricting the use of TikTok on Government devices is a prudent and proportionate step following advice from our cyber security experts,”said the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Oliver Dowden.
In more detail, the ban on government devices applies to government corporate devices within all government departments.
This ban does not extend to personal devices for government employees, ministers or the general public.
Individuals should be aware of each social media platform’s data policies when considering downloading and using them, the Cabinet Office said.
Exemptions will be granted by security on a case-by-case basis, with ministerial clearance as appropriate; such as for those working in enforcement roles, or for the purposes of work on online harms.
Among the Britons with accounts on the wildly popular TikTok site for sharing of short videos are the footballer Harry Kane, singers Sir Elton John and Ed Sheeran, and chefs Jamie Oliver and Gordon Ramsay.
For what TikTok has to say about its data collection practices see its blog.