China-owned social media app TikTok has been banned on UK government devices with immediate effect, the Cabinet Office announced today, following similar crackdowns in the US, Canada and European Union.
Ministers ordered a security review that looked at the potential vulnerability of government data from social media apps on devices and risks around how sensitive information could be accessed and used by some platforms.
A precautionary ban on TikTok has been introduced given the potentially sensitive nature of the information stored on government devices, the Cabinet Office said.
Currently, there is limited use of TikTok within the government and a limited need for government staff to use the app on work devices, it noted.
"The security of sensitive government information must come first, so today we are banning this app on government devices," commented Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Oliver Dowden. "The use of other data-extracting apps will be kept under review."
Some American lawmakers have been pushing for legislation that could ban the app altogether.
It was revealed earlier this week that TikTok is considering separating from its Shanghai-based owner ByteDance to avoid a potential US ban.
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