The UK has become the latest jurisdiction to ban the social video app TikTok from government devices, confirming reports that surfaced earlier this week.
The ban follows a security review ordered by UK ministers to see if government data could be compromised from social networks installed on work devices. Sure, other social media apps were included in the review, but the government decided to “preventively ban” only TikTok.
However, the government has said employees can continue to use TikTok on personal devices, but will consider exemptions for work devices on a case-by-case basis.
“Today, we are banning this app on government devices because the security of government classified information must come first,” Oliver Dowden, Secretary of State and Prime Minister of the Principality of Lancaster, said in a statement. use of data extraction apps will continue to be reviewed.Restricting the use of TikTok on government devices is prudent and proportionate, following advice from cybersecurity experts.”
TikTok has emerged as a hugely popular social network with well over a billion users. Additionally, TikTok has overtaken the mighty YouTube to become the social video app of choice among his teens and a hot medium for governments looking to tap into a younger demographic.
The UK ban was largely expected, with the UK parliament taking TikTok’s official It was announced less than a year after closing the account. Like similar social apps, TikTok requires permission from the device owner to access device data such as contacts, content, and location data.
TikTok in the spotlight
Today’s announcement comes amid similar bans elsewhere in the world, including the U.S. House of Representatives, in December, with the European Union and Canada issuing bulk takedown notices for TikTok on government devices last month. Belgium also announced a ban last week, and the Netherlands is considering a similar path.
TikTok faces no immediate threat in terms of a nationwide ban, but this growing political discontent has embarked on a major glamor attack, especially in Europe. announced Project Clover, a program that incorporates a range of privacy and security initiatives, including commitments regarding privacy and independent audit processes.
TechCrunch has reached out to TikTok and will update when contacted.
