The TikTok bans keep coming, and the one in the United Kingdom today is a significant one.
Today, the United Kingdom joined a growing list of nations that have outlawed the use of social networking on official computers. Oliver Dowden, the Duchy of Lancaster’s Chancellor, declared in a statement that TikTok would be blocked on government-owned devices as of right away. According to Dowden, the app is being prohibited to protect “important government information” from being misused.
“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.”
According to the UK’s ban, it “does not extend to personal devices for government employees, ministers, or the general public. While considering downloading and utilizing a social media site, people should be aware of its data regulations. The government stated that while some exceptions may be allowed, they will only be approved on a case-by-case basis after consulting with security professionals.
The United Kingdom is the most recent country to prohibit TikTok on official devices. The announcement coincides with a story claiming that the Biden administration is now threatening a complete ban in the US. According to reports, in order to prevent a nationwide ban, the U.S. government is requiring Chinese corporate stakeholders to sell their interests.
A representative for TikTok responded to the report by saying that “divestment doesn’t solve the problem” because a change in ownership wouldn’t put any additional limitations on data flows or access. The announcement comes a few weeks after Canada barred the social media app from use on official computers.