UK government bans employees from using TikTok

The logo of the TikTok app. REUTERS - DADO RUVIC

Text by: RFI Follow

1 min

The United Kingdom announced on Thursday (March 16th) the ban of the Chinese application TikTok on the work phones of its officials, a decision with immediate effect that follows those of other Western countries who advance security reasons, because TikTok belongs to the company ByteDance, based in Beijing and suspected of close links with the power in Beijing.

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With our correspondent in London, Emeline Vin

Banning government employees and ministers from using TiKTok on their business tools is good "digital hygiene," according to Minister Oliver Dowden.

Oliver Dowden, who is in charge of security, announced the ban in Parliament on Thursday, March 16, with immediate effect. To work, TikTok requires access to contacts, geolocation, and phone files. This data potentially reaches ByteDance, the Chinese owner of TikTok that Western powers suspect is linked to the Beijing regime.

Members of the government and civil servants of the public administration will, however, be free to use the application in a personal capacity. At least two ministers have accounts.

TikTok expressed "disappointment" with the decision. The Labour opposition accuses the government of doing too little, too late.

The United States, Canada, Belgium and the European Commission have already banned the use of the app on business phones.

Two weeks ago, however, the British Minister of Culture had assured that London would not imitate them, in the name of individual freedoms.

► Read also China reacts strongly to pressure from the United States on TikTok

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• United Kingdom
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