The UK on Thursday announced a security ban on Chinese-owned video app TikTok on government devices, in line with measures taken by the European Union and the United States.
“We will do this with immediate effect,” Cabinet Minister Oliver Dowden told Parliament.
Western authorities have been increasingly tough on the app, owned by the Bytedance company, fearing Chinese officials would use or abuse user data.
Dowden said the experts had carried out a risk assessment of the third-party apps in relation to sensitive government data.
As part of the measures, government devices will only be able to access apps from a pre-approved list.
The ban will apply to “Administration corporate devices” used by ministers and ministries, but not personal devices or the general public.
“This is a proportionate measure,” Dowden said, urging users to exercise “caution” before downloading apps.
The White House, the Government of Canada, the European Commission and the European Parliament are some of the institutions that have vetoed the use of TikTok on the corporate devices of their employees
TikTok denies that it facilitates the Chinese government’s access to its users’ data and speaks of ” prejudice ” because it is a company from that country.
China’s “momentous challenge”
This week, in an update on its foreign and defense policy, the UK detailed its plans to deal with the “momentous challenge” posed by China.
Since leaving the European Union, the UK has been seeking new markets and influence in Asia, partly to counter China. Among his plans is the reinforcement of security agencies to improve the resistance of critical infrastructures.
The UK has already drawn the ire of China by banning technology company Huawei from participating in the country’s 5G network rollout.
It has also blocked Chinese takeovers of British electronics groups and barred China General Nuclear from building a new power station.
When he ran unsuccessfully in the election to replace Boris Johnson in July, now-Prime Minister Rishi Sunak promised a strong hand against China, calling the Asian superpower the “number one threat” to national and global security.
He then claimed that China was “stealing our technology and infiltrating our universities.”
But since taking over from Johnson’s successor, Liz Truss, at Downing Street, Sunak has also insisted on the need to stay engaged with China.
