Worried About The Potential For Cyberattacks, The UK Will Ban TikTok In Government Mobile Devices

TikTok added a new feed specifically dedicated to science content (photo: twitter @tiktokcreators)

JAKARTA - China's popular short video application, TikTok will soon be banned from being used on UK government mobile devices. Cabinet Secretary Oliver Dowden will deliver a statement before the British parliament this afternoon regarding the security of government devices. According to Sky News quoted via Antara, Thursday, March 16, Dowden will then ban TikTok from being used in government mobile devices. The short video sharing app from China is being watched by a number of countries, particularly in the West, because it has something to do with data security and privacy. They are worried that TikTok will be used as a means to promote pro-China voices or collect user data. TikTok itself has repeatedly denied such accusations. The European Union Commission and a number of states in the United States, as well as the US Congress, have issued a ban on the use of this application for fear of being a means of launching cyber attacks. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak himself admitted to observing the development and stated that Britain was following the steps taken by Britain's allies. Not long ago this week, Security Minister Tom Tugendhat told Sky News he had asked the National Cybersecurity Center (NCSC) to investigate the app to ensure the security and freedom of the British diplomatic process. Last year the British parliament closed their TikTok accounts after lawmakers worried about the social media company's ties to China. TikTok said the UK Government ban was mistargeted and was based on fundamental misconceptions. TikTok also said it would be very disappointed if the UK Government banned the use of the app. According to TikTok, the decision to ban this application in several countries is based on baseless concerns, but states that it remains cooperative with any government. The Canadian government also banned TikTok from being used in all Canadian government-owned mobile devices. "The (Canada) government is taking significant steps to inform all federal employees that they can no longer use TikTok on their office phones," Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was quoted as saying on the Voice of America page on February 28.