UK bans TikTok on government devices following U.S. move

LONDON — The United Kingdom connected Thursday announced plans to prohibition the usage of Chinese-owned video app TikTok connected authorities firm devices.

Cabinet bureau minister Oliver Dowden said that, pursuing a reappraisal by Britain's cybersecurity experts, it is "clear that determination could beryllium a hazard astir however delicate authorities information is accessed and utilized by definite platforms."

Dowden added that apps cod immense amounts of information connected users, including contacts and location. On authorities devices, that "data tin beryllium sensitive," helium said.

The TikTok prohibition begins with contiguous effect, Dowden said, adding that the determination was "precautionary."

He confirmed the prohibition would not widen to idiosyncratic devices for govenment employees. "This is simply a proportionate determination based connected a circumstantial hazard with authorities devices."

The curate besides said that authorities devices volition lone beryllium capable to entree third-party apps that are connected a pre-approved list.

Britain's determination follows akin rules successful the U.S. and European Union. In precocious February, the White House gave authorities agencies 30 days to marque definite TikTok was not installed connected national devices. The European Commission, the EU's enforcement arm, also banned employees from installing TikTok connected firm and idiosyncratic devices.

Lawmakers successful Washington person repeatedly expressed interest that American idiosyncratic information from TikTok could beryllium sent to China and get into the hands of the authorities successful Beijing.

TikTok has, connected respective occasions, highlighted the enactment they're doing to support U.S. idiosyncratic data. The institution unveiled "Project Texas" past twelvemonth to "fully safeguard idiosyncratic information and U.S. nationalist information interests."

TikTok said it is moving with U.S. steadfast Oracle to store each U.S. information by default connected the American firm's cloud, successful a determination to assuage Washington's fears.

Pressure is mounting globally connected TikTok. The  U.S. Committee connected Foreign Investment successful the United States (CFIUS) told ByteDance to merchantability its shares successful TikTok, oregon the app could look a U.S. ban. Any prohibition would choke TikTok disconnected from the monolithic American market.